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Help Tonya Focus on Healing
Hi friends, family, and community,
This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.
On New Year’s Eve, my life changed very suddenly with a diagnosis of Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma — a rare but curable and aggressive form of cancer. While hearing the word “cancer” is terrifying, I’ve been given hope: my medical team is confident, and treatment has already begun.
Before treatment could even start, there were many complications that made the beginning of this journey far more challenging than expected. I experienced multiple ICU stays, developed blood clots, and struggled with eating and drinking, all of which required close monitoring and urgent care.
Despite these setbacks, I was released from the hospital on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, just in time to spend those precious moments with my family. Those days reminded me exactly what I’m fighting for.
My treatment plan is intensive. It includes a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy over approximately 18 weeks, with cycles that involve full days in hospital followed by continuous at-home chemo. While I’m determined to fight with everything I have, this journey requires my full energy — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
As many of you know, I’m a mom, a wife, and someone who is used to showing up for everyone else. Asking for help does not come easily to me. But the reality is that cancer doesn’t just affect your health — it impacts every part of life.
This fundraiser is meant to help ease the financial stress that comes with treatment, including:
- Time away from work and reduced income
- Medications and supportive therapies
- Travel to and from appointments
- Childcare and household support during treatment weeks — we’ve been incredibly grateful for the generosity of my daughter’s childcare during this time
- The unexpected expenses that cancer brings with it
My goal is simple: to be able to focus on healing, being present with my children and husband, and getting through treatment without the constant fear of how we’ll manage everything else.
If you’re able to donate, please know that it means more than I can ever express. If you can’t, sharing this page or sending love and encouragement is just as meaningful. Every message, every prayer, every show of support reminds me that I’m not walking this road alone.
I am fighting. I am hopeful. And I am incredibly grateful for the community surrounding me.
With love and gratitude,
Tonya