Hi everyone,
Our names are Nicole and Amanda and we are organizing this GoFundMe on behalf of our beautiful sister Dana and her amazing husband, Mike.
Just a few weeks ago, our sister was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. Overnight, our entire family completely turned upside down. To us, the world completely stopped.
If you know our sister then you know she is such a genuine soul. As the oldest sister, she practically helped raise us because our parents worked a lot. She protected us, guided us and loved us fiercely. She always showed up for us, especially when we were facing difficult life challenges and always cheered our successes. She is truly the best big sister anyone could ever ask for.
Dana is also a devoted mother to 10 year old twins, a loving wife and a friend to so many. She is the kind of parent who never misses a moment. She’s always cheering on her daughter, Gia, at dance classes and recitals and supporting her son, Mikey, at football and basketball practices and games. She is also a cheerleading coach, which feels like a full circle moment since she was a cheerleader in high school. Dana shows up for everyone she loves, consistently putting their needs before her own and rarely asking for help.
Driven by her passion to make a difference, Dana took a bold step a few years ago and returned to school to earn her masters degree. Today, she teaches middle school special education and pours her heart and soul into her career. Her students adore her and she adores them. She goes above and beyond to support her students and help them grow. Her dedication to making a difference in the lives of others is nothing short of inspiring.
One of the hardest parts has been watching her stay strong, not just for herself but for her kids, all while facing a battle that no one is ever truly ready for. Watching her face this with strength and grace is inspiring but also heartbreaking to know how much she is carrying behind the scenes.
Because this type of breast cancer is the most aggressive, the road ahead is long and includes an aggressive treatment plan which will result in time away from work and countless medical visits. We would like her days ahead to be focused on healing and fighting this with all of her strength but with that, comes the financial strain of medical bills and everyday expenses which will continue to grow. We created this GoFundMe to help ease some of the financial burden that Dana and Mike will face.
If you are able to donate, honestly no amount is too small and every contribution will make a meaningful difference. If you can’t donate at this time, sharing this page or keeping Dana and her family in your thoughts and prayers means just as much. The power of prayer is strong and God is so good!
Thank you for your compassion, generosity, love and prayers. Our family is deeply grateful.
With love,
Nicole and Amanda