Dear friends and community,

My family is facing one of life’s hardest journeys, and I am asking for help to carry this weight together.

My husband, Andy, may now be on his final journey after being diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in October 2023. While I’ve come to accept the reality of the situation, I continue to hold on to the hope that he will stay with us longer than predicted.

This past year has been incredibly difficult for Andy, our 11-year-old son, Julian, and me; it has been an emotional rollercoaster for all of us. When one family member suffers, the whole family suffers too, each in our own way. Andy has had to visit the emergency room numerous times. In recent weeks, these visits have become more frequent which led to a very difficult decision to admit him to home-based hospice care—a suggestion multiple doctors had made, though I resisted it adamantly for as long as possible.

This disease has been unrelenting, bringing complications, frequent medical procedures and taxing chemotherapy treatments with their side effects. Andy has faced many visits to specialists, countless needle pokes for blood draws, IVs, and medication injections, as well as x-rays and CT scans. The demands on his body and mind have been exhausting, and there's only so much one can withstand.

Andy is no stranger to medical and life challenges, including a spinal fusion as a teenager and a major stroke at the age of 44, which left the right side of his body paralyzed. Despite the odds, he made what his doctor called a miraculous recovery. (Julian, our blessing, was born just seven months later!) Andy has faced the challenges with remarkable resilience and a great sense of humor. His strength continues to amaze me.

Since entering hospice care, he has been able to sleep and rest better than he has in a long time, even looking better than he has in months. Most importantly, he is now able to say he feels comfortable. This has brought a sense of relief to Julian and me, allowing us to focus on making the most of the time we have left together.

To everyone who has offered prayers, positive thoughts, emotional support, and kind gestures, we thank you. Now, I am reaching out to ask for your financial support to help us find peace of mind during this challenging time.

I have been able to work very little over the past year. New business opportunities have come my way, sparking excitement and desire, but I’ve decided to let them go to focus on my family. It feels as if the Universe is teaching me to surrender my desires for now, reminding me that love, not money, is what sustains us.

As a caregiver to my husband and our son, I am humbly asking for your donation to help us cover:

No amount is too small. We ask for your empathy, care, and love, as well as your ongoing prayers and blessings.

With immense gratitude,

Stephanie Hoi-Nga