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Help Save My Best Friend’s Life
A Mother, Wife, Friend, and Fighter
My best friend Samantha is fighting for her life. Just months after welcoming her baby girl, Amelia, Sam was diagnosed with Stage 4 invasive ductal carcinoma — an aggressive form of breast cancer. What she thought was a clogged duct while breastfeeding turned out to be a large tumor surrounded by smaller ones, with cancer spreading to her lymph nodes and lungs. Sam lives in Colorado but is receiving treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the leading cancer centers in the world. Her care involves chemotherapy, immunotherapy, scans, and frequent travels to Texas. The emotional, physical, and financial toll on Sam and her family is overwhelming.
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Why We’re Asking for Help
This fundraiser will directly support Sam and her family for help with:
- Travel between Colorado and Texas for treatment
- Medical expenses not covered by insurance
- Childcare for baby Amelia
- Relief from lost income while Sam focuses on healing
Every dollar donated helps Sam access the care she needs and eases the crushing financial burden her family faces.
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Sam is one of the most vibrant, kind, and determined people you’ll ever meet.
- We met 10 years ago at the University of South Florida when we sat next to each other in an undergraduate class, and immediately bonded with her bubbly, kind, and welcoming soul. We helped each other survive all- nighters, last-minute cram sessions, and leaned on one another for countless pep talks
- She earned her master’s degree in Colorado and became a Speech-Language Pathologist, helping children with speech, language, and developmental challenges. Her patience, creativity, and goofy humor make her the clinician every child deserves.
- But what truly sets Sam apart is the joy she brings to everything she does. She has a creative soul and a deep love of Jewish music. She’s written and recorded original songs, and continues to sing Hashiveinu to her baby Amelia every night — passing on her love of song, faith, and tradition.
If you know Sam, you know she’s a fighter, facing this battle with the same courage, humor, and faith that have always defined her. She’s always been the one to lift others up. Now it’s our turn to lift and support her.
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How You Can Help
- Donate — every contribution makes a difference.
- Please Share This Campaign with your networks. I know these are difficult times for many, so even if you’re not able to donate, please at least Share the campaign so that others can learn about Sam’s story. Or leave an encouraging Comment to contribute positive thoughts to Sam’s healing.
- Send prayers and positive energy for strength and healing.
Together, we can help Sam access the care she needs and remind her she is surrounded by love, faith, and community.
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Letter from Raiza
Sam has been my best friend for a decade. We’ve walked through college, careers, marriages, and now motherhood side by side. Watching her fight this battle while caring for her baby girl breaks my heart, but I know she has the spirit and strength to overcome it. With your support, we can give her the chance to keep singing to Amelia every night, to keep being the incredible mother, wife, friend, and healer she was born to be.
Thank you for your love, generosity, and prayers.
With gratitude,
Raiza