Support Shari’s Fight Against Rare Cancer

Dear Family, Friends, and Kind Strangers,

My mom, Shari, is one of the most thoughtful and selfless people I know. She’s the kind of person who can be walking through a store, see something that reminds her of someone, and pick it up just to show she’s thinking of them. If she hears someone is struggling — whether it’s with food, clothes, or something their kids need — she’ll do everything she can to connect them with help. Growing up, she worked two to three jobs to keep our home running and make sure we never went without. Even when we didn’t always agree, she’s always been there — with all the love she knew how to give. She raised three daughters on her own, each of us needing something different, and she somehow always found a way to show up for us all. Everyone she meets matters to her. She tries to spend time with friends and all 10 of her grandkids, children, brothers, cousins, and her mom as much as she can. And right now, I want to make sure she knows just how much she matters.

In 2014, my mom was diagnosed with Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (ESS), a rare uterine cancer, after an emergency hysterectomy. She fought through radiation in 2015 when it returned, and in 2019, she began struggling with breathing — originally misdiagnosed as asthma. In 2023, after pushing for more answers, a heart CT revealed nodules behind her heart. A lung resection uncovered that these nodules are cancerous, and what was supposed to be a 3-week medical leave turned into a year-long battle. With the cancer now spread to her lungs, it was classified as Stage 4.

She started chemotherapy in 2024, but by 2025 the cancer had progressed again. Her current treatment puts her heart at risk, and because this cancer is so rare, there are no clinical trials or targeted therapies available. We’re now pursuing a second opinion from a top-tier hospital to explore other options and give her the best possible chance — but insurance won’t cover the consultation or testing until we switch providers, meaning we’re left to cover the cost upfront.

Hope is a powerful thing — and right now, we’re holding onto it with everything we’ve got. Shari has faced every challenge with strength, love, and grace, and we believe she deserves access to the best care possible. Your support, no matter how big or small, helps us take that next step. Whether it’s a donation, a kind word, or simply sharing this page, you’re part of her fight. And together, we can help bring light to one of the toughest times in her life.

We’re raising funds to make that second opinion possible — to give my mom the fighting chance she deserves. Any support, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to the care she needs and the hope we’re holding onto. Thank you for reading, sharing, and standing with us.

With love and gratitude,

Megan