Standing beside my beautiful friend Marlen as she battles cancer with courage, faith, and love. Every donation helps lighten her burden.

If you know Marlen, you know her heart — she’s the first to show up when someone needs help, the one who makes everyone laugh even on hard days, and the friend who never hesitates to give more than she has.

Now, it’s Marlen who needs us.

A few months ago, what started as a simple gallbladder issue quickly spiraled into something unimaginable. After her gallbladder surgery, doctors discovered a mass in her abdomen. Further testing revealed that the tumor is wrapped around her vena cava (a major blood vessel), left kidney, and left adrenal gland — and to make matters worse, she’s also developed pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in her lungs).

Marlen is only 30 years old. No one expects to hear words like tumor or cancer at that age — especially not after thinking it was just a gallbladder problem. She’s been in and out of appointments with multiple specialists, undergoing scans, tests, and procedures while waiting on next steps for treatment.

Because of her medical condition, she hasn’t been able to work. Even with insurance, the bills are piling up fast — copays, prescriptions, imaging, travel costs, and everyday expenses that don’t stop just because life has.

Through all of this, Marlen has stayed unbelievably strong. She keeps smiling, keeps cracking jokes, and keeps believing that she’ll get through this. But she shouldn’t have to face it alone.

This fundraiser is to help relieve some of the financial pressure so she can focus on what truly matters — healing and fighting for her life. Every dollar, every share, every kind message makes a difference.

Please consider donating or sharing her story. Let’s help give Marlen the strength and support she’s always given everyone else.

Thank you for standing beside her during this fight.