I don’t really know how to begin this. I’m just going to be honest and humbly ask for your attention for just a moment, because we need our people and support right now.

This past year has completely turned our world upside down in ways we never could have imagined. What started as a routine mammogram led to more tests, scans, and appointments and finally on November 11th, a diagnosis of Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma — HER2 positive breast cancer for Monica. Since then, our lives have been filled with appointments, phone calls, procedures, fear, waiting, and more uncertainty than we’ve ever known. Monica has been out of work and will continue to be for several months at least.

Last Thursday, Monica had a sentinel lymph node biopsy during the removal of the first three adjacent lymph nodes and a lumpectomy. She came home exhausted, sore, and honestly emotionally spent. The physical pain is real, but the emotional weight has been even heavier — worrying about what comes next, about recovery, about treatment, and about the kids.

We have been working behind the scenes this past year just to keep our heads above water. We’ve been doing everything we can together — budgeting, juggling bills, making tough sacrifices, and constantly micro-managing our decisions — all while life kept piling more onto us. Monica had been working two jobs just to cover basics like food and gas, trying desperately to help us stay afloat while also building a home together that can accommodate our family’s unique needs. And now we are preparing for the reality of cancer and surgery and treatments. We’ve tried so hard to handle this on our own, but this holiday season has been heavier than we ever could have prepared for.

Being out of work now has been incredibly hard and as a mom to three kids — especially the boys, Evan and Avery, who are both autistic and thrive on routine — this disruption has been overwhelming for the whole family. We are trying so hard to stay strong for them while also giving ourselves permission to be scared and human.

We hate asking for help. We really do. But we’ve reached a point where we can’t do this alone.

We’ve started a GoFundMe to help cover medical bills, lost wages, transportation to appointments, and just keeping up with our basic needs, while Monica fights this cancer and recovers from surgery. Anything — even $5 — truly helps more than you know.

If you can’t donate, sharing this means everything to us too. Please keep us in your prayers, your thoughts, or whatever good energy you believe in.

Monica is an absolute warrior, and she will continue to fight this with love.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

— Monica and Danielle