A week before Christmas, my 18-year-old niece, Sadie, developed a severe chest cold and was coughing so intensely that she fractured a rib. During the X-ray to assess the fracture, doctors discovered a mass in her lung. She was referred to a pulmonologist and initially told it was likely a benign hamartoma. However, her doctor recommended a biopsy to be certain. Sadie underwent surgery to biopsy the tumor on February 5th. Three days later, she received a call informing her that her specimen needed to be sent to the mainland for a second opinion. On February 19th, Sadie received the unwelcome news that she has a very rare form of lung cancer called Inflammatory myofibroblastic Tumor.

Thankfully, the cancer was caught early and is classified as Stage 1. Even so, Sadie will need to have one-third of her lung removed. Her surgery is scheduled for March 9th, and she is expected to remain in the hospital for about five days. Her recovery will take approximately three to six months, and she will be unable to work for at least the first three months. During this time, her mom, Ashley, will be taking a six-week unpaid FMLA leave from her job to care for Sadie. While Sadie does have insurance that will cover much of her medical expenses, there will still be co-pays and significant out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, Sadie will be without income for three months, and Ashley will be without income for six weeks, with only three days of paid time off available to her. Covering monthly bills, groceries, gas, and car payments during this period will be difficult.

We are humbly asking for your support to help ease the financial burden on Sadie and her mom during this challenging time. If you are able to donate or simply share this GoFundMe, it would mean more than words can express. Sadie and Ashley are deeply grateful for your love, prayers, and support.