Samantha Kirk—better known as "Sam" to her friends and family—is one of the most generous people you could ever meet. She is always the first to show up when someone needs help, whether that means picking up groceries, babysitting, running errands, or simply being there when it matters most. Giving to others isn't something Sam does occasionally—it's who she is.

Sam is a devoted wife and mother of six, working tirelessly every day to help provide for her family and keep their world running. Despite the demands of raising a large family, she has always made time to support others. Together, Sam and her husband Chris work full-time jobs plus DoorDash deliveries at night to make sure their household stays afloat. Our lives are built brick by brick, and when one piece is shaken, it can feel like everything is at risk of falling apart. Still, we have always pushed forward, doing whatever it takes to keep going.

Over the past several months, Sam has been suffering from severe, debilitating headaches. She repeatedly sought medical help, advocating for herself and asking doctors to take a deeper look. Over the last two months, she has been in and out of the emergency room searching for answers as the pain refused to go away. Despite all of this, she never stopped showing up for her family, her friends, or her job.

After months of advocating for herself, Sam was finally able to get the imaging she needed. The results revealed something concerning, and she was immediately referred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for further evaluation. Once there, an MRI confirmed the presence of a tumor on her brain.

The doctors have told us that the location of the mass is favorable for surgery, which may take place as early as Monday. Right now, we are in pre-op, working through next steps and trying to prepare for what lies ahead. While we are grateful for the opportunity to move quickly, we don't yet know how difficult the road to recovery may be.

Our family is no stranger to challenges. We have learned to navigate adversity with strength and resilience. Our son Lucas is on the Autism Spectrum and lives with cyclic vomiting syndrome, and our son Shaun has type 1 diabetes and ADHD. What once felt overwhelming has become a part of our everyday lives, and we have always found a way to adapt and push through. Asking for help has never come easily to us—we've always tried to figure things out on our own and make the best of whatever comes our way.

Sam currently works at the Primrose School of Concordville, where she cares for young infants—often helping families through those emotional first days away from their baby. She pours her heart into her work, treating every child as if they were her own. Her coworkers describe her as loud, energetic, and full of life—you can often hear Sam's voice and laugh echoing through the halls. She isn't just part of the staff; she is family to everyone she knows.

Our goal is simple: to get Sam fully healed and back to being herself—the person who makes the world a better place for everyone around her. We want to ease the burden during this time so she can focus on healing, instead of worrying about everyone else.

We are not the type of family that asks for help, and this is not easy for us. More than anything, we ask for your prayers, support, and positive thoughts. Any help given, whether through donations or simply sharing our story, is deeply appreciated and will make a meaningful difference for our family. We are truly grateful for any support we receive along the way, and we fully intend to pay it forward when we are able.

We are incredibly thankful for our extended family, friends, coworkers, and church community who have already begun to rally around us.

Please keep Sam in your thoughts and prayers as she prepares for surgery and begins the road to recovery. Thank you for standing with our family.