UPDATE: It is with a shattered heart I share that Samantha passed away on May 16th. Sam was at home, she was at peace, she was with friends and family. We are devastated beyond works. And we are shocked at the pace and dramatic level in which this has all unfolded. Sam's loss is incomprehensible and leaves a profound absence in so many people's lives.

This fund will now be thoughtfully re-purposed. A good portion is still going to cover medical care. The remainder, and any additional contributions received, will be directed to an Aiden Future Fund, which is what Sam wanted. Aiden is the light of Sam's world - her beloved son. It is now my life long mission to keep his Mama's memory in bright lights forever.

Thank you so much for your love and support throughout this profoundly tragic time for our family.

Love, Heidi

ORIGINAL POST:

It is with a heavy and humbled heart that I share our family’s story.

In January, my wife Sam received a shocking diagnose: metastatic Stage IV uterine leiomyosarcoma—an aggressive and extremely rare cancer. We started chemotherapy immediately. After three brutal rounds, we believed the treatment was helping—and in some ways, it was. Then, suddenly, the day after Sam’s fourth chemotherapy treatment, Sam lost the use of her left arm and hand. Two days later, she lost the use of her left leg and entire left side.

This abrupt paralysis brought us to the Emergency Room, where we were devastated to learn the cancer has spread to her brain. We spent the next week at UW Medical Center consulting with radiology oncologists only to receive the worst news of all: it has also spread to her bones. We have now had to face a heartbreaking reality: there are no remaining treatment options that will meaningfully change the outcome. Sam has had to make the most difficult decision of all; she has begun hospice. The pace at which this has all occurred defies belief, and yet it is really happening. There are no words to describe the grief and anguish we are experiencing.

Sam is the center of our world—an extraordinary partner, a devoted mama, a respected colleague, a lifelong servant leader, and a deeply loved friend. She brings warmth, humor, steadiness, and light into every space she enters. Watching her face this with courage, fortitude, and grace has been both heartbreaking and profoundly inspiring.

Now unable to walk, and as her condition has progressed, Sam requires 24/7 in-home care. Our greatest wish is to keep her at home—surrounded by love, familiarity, and the comfort of being with family—while ensuring she receives the skilled, compassionate care she needs every hour of the day.

At the same time, we are doing everything we can to create a sense of stability and normalcy for our seven-year-old son, Aiden, while navigating the emotional and logistical realities of this diagnosis.

The out-of-pocket costs of this journey so far, combined with the level of care Sam now requires, are immense and growing. Between full-time caregiving, medical expenses, home support needs, and the impact on our ability to work, the financial strain has become overwhelming.

We know this is a significant ask. The reality is that our family is facing extraordinary and rapidly growing challenges during an already heartbreaking time. Any contribution—no matter the size—helps ease the burden and allows us to focus our energy where it matters most: caring for Sam, supporting Aiden, and making the most of the time we have together.

If you are able, we humbly ask for your support. And if a donation is not possible, simply sharing this page with others means more than we can express.

Your generosity, care, and kindness are helping carry our family through the most difficult chapter of our lives. We are forever grateful.

Love,

Heidi, Sam and Aiden