My name is Ali, and my dear friend Erin has just been diagnosed with cancer.

Erin and their child Eva need your support. Erin has been followed regularly by a clinic than monitors for breast cancer in people with an elevated genetic risk. On August 30th, a routine screen appointment revealed an abnormal lymph node. A biopsy was ordered immediately out of an abundance of caution. The call no one wants came just ten days later.

On Friday, September 13, Erin received a cancer diagnosis. An emergency MRI was scheduled following business day, and a surgical consult has already been booked the subsequent day. Erin will face a whirlwind of tests and appointments in the weeks and month ahead.. Immediate chemotherapy is likely, as is major surgery. Although things are moving very quickly, much is still up in the air for Erin and her family while she awaits these results and braces for specialists’ interventions.

Our priority is to support Erin and Eva. Financial assistance can bring crucial stability in the face of unexpected costs and help bridge an unfortunate gap of time between now and when Erin’s employer disability insurance kicks in. Support from family, friends, and from you will be vital to throughout the uncertainty of these daunting next few months. Cancer diagnoses come with costs many would not consider - co-pays on medication, aides for the home, parking expenses, to name just a few – all while Erin will be coping with a significant reduction in income while on long term disability. Your aid now will help Erin and Eva tend to what matters most, and focus their attention and energy towards well-being, health, and precious time spent together as a family.

Erin is one of the kindest and most caring people I know. This time, it’s Erin who needs our help.

November 13, 2024 update. Erin has been recovering from her lymph node dissection and lymphovenous bypass surgery on October 23. This week she had her consultation with an oncologist and is expected to start chemotherapy in around 3 weeks. Erin will need to take a medication to increase her white blood cells during the course of her chemotherapy over an 18 week period. This is a chemotherapy that can significantly hamper white blood cell production and the drug that she will take with each cycle is $1000.00 without drug coverage. There is a drug access coordinator to help figure out how to lower the cost for her. Please donate to my friend on the next leg of treatment.

After chemotherapy is completed, Erin will get a double mastectomy and once healed, radiation treatment. This is a long road and your support really helps.

May 20, 2025 update. Erin had her double mastectomy 3 weeks ago after receiving chemotherapy. A consult was completed with a radiation oncologist last week, with treatment expected in the next 3 weeks. Erin will be receiving 20 radiation therapy treatments, followed by a long course of Olaparib. Olaparib is a chemotherapy which inhibits the growth of cancer cells and is particularly effective for folks who have gotten a breast cancer diagnosis and have the genetic mutations to BRAC1 or BRAC2. This is a long journey and many medications are not covered or only partially covered by insurance. Your ongoing support is much appreciated.