During the past three years, my parents have experienced a series of medical crises:

My dear mother, Marie, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2022. Radiation fortunately killed the cancer, but caused severe damage to her vocal cords and esophagus. August 2024 after a series of airway emergencies, she received a tracheotomy (artificial airway in her throat), which has significantly limited her health, ability to work, and overall quality of life. On Valentines Day this year, she was admitted to the ER with aspiration pneumonia from weakness and swallowing issues. She has been hospitalized since (about two months). Just as she began to improve, things quickly turned downhill. Shortly after, we received devastating results of a biopsy -- Her cancer has returned as terminal, stage four, small cell liver cancer, which has already spread to lymph nodes and chest.

During this time, my incredible father has been absolutely critical in caring for her. Unfortunately, he knows her struggles intimately -- Last year, he was diagnosed with terminal, stage three, small cell lung cancer. This first terminal diagnosis was earth-shattering for our family, but met with unrelenting resilience from my father. While his cancer has been in regression for about a year now, the doctors assure it will come back and one day end his life. During these past two months, my father has given every ounce of his love and energy to take care of our mother. While beautiful and needed, it worries our community, as his own cancer timeline looms heavily in our minds.

I am writing with the soul-crushing pain of knowing both my parents only have 1-2 years left on this earth with us. My twin sister, Lucille, and I now live with the nauseating reality of knowing our parents may never attend our weddings, or meet the children we decide to have. Despite this harsh reality and my own personal nightmare, we have inherited the grit and resilience of our parents. Lucy and I have been working tirelessly to support our parents through these health crises and do our best to set them up for a comfortable end of life together as a family.

Unfortunately, we desperately need help.

Our family has always lived a humble life below the poverty line in Appalachia. These financial challenges have been compounded by the fact my parents are barely / no longer able to work due to their health conditions. My sister and I are working our first “real” jobs, attempting to set our lives up to be providers for our beloved parents. While we prepare for bankruptable medical bills, basic transportation is our main concern right now:

My parents are in dire need of a safe vehicle to get them to and from medical appointments and mothers cancer treatment. Two days ago, we almost missed a series of appointments because their only reliable vehicle needs serious maintenance. Your donations will go towards replacing brake pads, worn tires, rear shocks, front rotors, and additional maintenance recommended by our local mechanic.

This vehicle maintenance provides us peace of mind, as my mother receives treatment and our family sorts out the challenging logistics ahead.

I ask for your gracious support on behalf of my beautiful parents who are too humble to ask for help themselves. I write with a heart full of love and immense love and gratitude for the outpour of support my family has already received.

Many thanks for the love and support.

Any money that surpasses the fundraising goal will go towards medical bills.