Yee Valerie Moua's Fight Against Cancer

August 9th, 2019 the day that stomach cramps, heart burn and back pain turned into symptoms of a 6-letter word: CANCER. Specifically, Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC) of the Stomach, a rare cancer with a 30% survival rate – enough to numb you as these words echo in your mind. Defining moments like this, can help reveal to us who we are and prove that we are more than just a statistic. Daughter, sister, teacher, mother, friend, a woman of faith or simply Yee Valerie Moua - this is her story.

Daughter/Sister: born in Laos, the eldest of 8 siblings, she took on many of the responsibilities of caring and providing for her family and was like a second mom to them. This was further catalyzed when they immigrated to the United States in search of the American Dream. She became the voice for her mom and family, helping her siblings with homework and driving everyone to and from school and work. She demonstrated to them how ambition and hard work can transform dreams into reality by earning a Master’s Degree in teaching at CSU-Fresno. She is to them, a beacon of light – guiding them to strive for a better future than they’ve envisioned for themselves.

Teacher: she has dedicated 12 years of her life in helping mold the minds of our future as an educator at Winchell Elementary. Not only does she invest additional time, but she utilizes her personal funds to purchase supplies to ensure her students get the best education possible. She has demonstrated success and is proud of her endeavor in equipping them with mental, social and emotional skills to thrive in all facets of life, not just in academia.

Mother: to two boys - a 7 and a 16-year-old. Parenting offers its own challenges, even more so as a single parent. Valerie has tirelessly worked to provide a nurturing home where her boys know love, stability and are setup for success in life.

Friend: her kind soul and selfless tendencies provide a gravitational pull that translate to many calling her friend. Her infectious smile welcomes people with a kindhearted embrace letting them know they are loved and genuinely cared for.

Woman of Faith: her dedication to her church provides the foundation Val needs to hold onto hope and strength when times are bleak. As the former Youth Sunday School Teacher and now the Secretary, Val gives tirelessly as a leader of the church and is renewed to love and serve as best as she can with God by her side.

Val the Victorious: this is the story that is currently being written for her. Our prayer is that the outcome will be more time given to her. Time to continue to let her light shine bright, time to continue to inspire love, to change lives with her gifts, through the many roles she plays. There will be enormous mental and physical strain in the next few months as she undergoes an 8-week chemotherapy to hopefully shrink the cancer, so it can be operable. If you can help eliminate the worry of financial burdens from medical expenses, as well as Val suffering a pay cut from taking a leave of absence from work, please consider donating. Our family also happily welcomes: prayers, words of encouragement and taking the time to SHARE her story with others, in order to help ease her emotional strain. Valerie has always put those around her first and has never asked for anything for herself. As her family and friends who love her, we are sharing her story with you in hopes that you might consider supporting in any way that you can. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We truly appreciate all your love, support, and prayers. 

“There is nothing so brave in the whole wide world as a candle daring to live on in the wind.” -Atticus