I'm raising this fundraiser for my sister, Shannon Lopes, as she faces cancer treatment and the financial strain that comes with it. Within the past couple of months, she has already had two surgeries, along with CT scans, deductibles, copays, and other medical expenses. Now she is about to start radiation treatment, with chemotherapy also still ahead.

She is still so young, and she is one of the most dedicated and thoughtful people I know. As a teacher, she genuinely cares about her students and is always thinking about how to help them grow both academically and in life. She has dedicated so much of herself to caring for others, and even while facing this, she has met it head on. Though this has created stress and affected her emotionally, she is still the kind of person who comforts the people around her because she knows this has been hard on all of us too.

Between treatment costs and limited income while she undergoes treatment, the bills are already wracking up. As a single woman, the primary financial burden is on her, and she is doing everything she can to make responsible decisions while still putting her health first. She is even moving out of her current place temporarily so she can stay near my parents for treatment.

Some of the costs have already had to go on credit cards so she could get her surgeries done in a timely manner. This fundraiser is mainly to help with the growing medical bills and keep her from coming out of treatment buried in debt. Support will also help ease the strain of lost income while she is unable to work.

Because these medical bills and the loss of income will continue through radiation and chemotherapy, any donation or share will make a real difference in helping her keep up with treatment-related expenses over time.

Thank you for supporting my sister during this difficult time and for helping her focus on her health instead of the financial weight of treatment.