Help Lori Fight Stage IV Breast Cancer

In 2013 one of our childhood friends received a devastating diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. Anyone who knows Lori knows she is a fighter, who has battled this illness with grit, positive vibes, and a wicked sense of humor. Growing up with her, we never could have imagined Lori would walk this painful path. Back then our only worries came from things like getting home before the street lights went on, running for our lives after toilet papering a neighbor’s house, or watching Mr. Dutson’s face as Lori accidentally plowed through his rose garden on a four wheeler. As a kid, Lori was gold and has stayed gold through and through, in spite of everything this cancer has done to her and her family.


After her diagnosis, Lori continued working full-time, delivering for Fed Ex until radiation treatments affected her vision last year. To say she’s strong is an understatement. Currently, her battle has intensified. The drugs used to save her life have damaged her kidneys, which means chemo is on hold. Adding to this distressing turn of events, her latest PET scan revealed new cancer activity in her liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. Lori is on dialysis three days a week while her kidneys heal, but there have been complications, and it’s not working as well as hoped.  


Lori’s diagnosis is particularly heartbreaking because her cancer should have been caught at a much earlier stage. In 2011, Lori noticed a lump in her right breast. She had a mammogram and was told it was dense breast tissue, but she suspected something wasn’t right. Her physician told her a biopsy wasn’t medically necessary, even though Lori’s mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. A year later, Lori had a second mammogram. By this time, she was sure something was wrong and asked for a biopsy. Unfortunately, the physician didn’t listen to her concerns. Again, she told her a biopsy was not medically necessary. In 2013, when Lori noticed an indent in her right breast—two years after she first suspected cancer—she finally received a biopsy, which led to the discovery of a tumor the size of a golf ball. A subsequent PET scan showed the cancer had already metastasized to her liver and spine. In the U.S., it is incredibly rare to receive a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis out of the gate, but this is Lori’s story.


Right now, what her family could use the most is some relief from the exorbitant expenses that come with such a shattering illness, so they can spend more time focusing on Lori and helping her to get well enough to resume chemo. Please consider donating. Any amount helps.

Let’s show Lori we’ve HEARD her story, and we are with her in this fight, hoping against hope for a miracle!

Every prayer, every positive thought, every dollar, every gesture of support is truly appreciated.

Thank you, and please check back for updates on Lori’s progress.