In June of this year, after dealing with a persistent cough, our mom (Karen) found out she had a large mass in her left lung as well as spots on her liver. A couple of weeks later, a biopsy was done where we learned the mass was consistent with small cell lung cancer. That evening, she began to struggle to breathe and was rushed by ambulance to the ER. The medical team was unable to get her oxygen to a safe level and were forced to sedate and place her on a ventilator. Small cell lung cancer grows very rapidly; hers had gotten so large it was pushing on her trachea, completely blocking her airway. Our only option was to begin an aggressive chemotherapy treatment immediately. Thankfully, after 7 days in the ICU and a 3-day round of chemo, the mass had shrunk enough to remove the vent tube, allowing her to breathe on her own.

As happy as we were to see our mom awake and breathing on her own, we knew it wasn’t over. She was released from the hospital after 10 days. Further testing gave us the diagnosis: stage 4 metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

As tough and independent as she is, this has taken away her ability to work. She has good days and bad days, both physically and emotionally. We, as her children, are doing everything within our abilities to make this journey easier on her as she continues this battle.

While we don’t fully know what lies ahead, we do know our mom has the determination to keep going and put up the fight of her life. The love and support of our family and friends remind us how lucky we truly are.

We are asking for funds to help cover the many costs that come with medical treatment, extended care, and living costs. Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser to show support for our mom. Whether your contribution is big or small, every bit helps and our family is grateful.