A World Without my Sister

Hi everyone,
Thanks for visiting my sister's Go Fund Me page. 

I'm going to tell you a story about my sister, Lenore, who at 37 was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer. The doctors gave her a few weeks to live.

That was 4 years ago. Since then, it has been a brutal battle for her life. Chemo, Immunotherapy, countless infections, procedures, hospital stays, and now, a life-threatening surgery. The most difficult part of her journey.


But first, I'd like to tell you why I'm writing this instead of her.

Lenore can't bring herself to say, or write, the word "cancer." She believes if she says it, if she owns and accepts it, then it will consume her. Maybe she's right. Today, not only is she still alive, but after six months of the most aggressive chemo available, she unexpectedly got pregnant — something she was told could never happen again —  and now has a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Scarlet, sister to my niece, 10-year-old Jasmine. 

That's my sister. Defying all odds. Lifting up others while she herself can barely get out of bed. She is like no other. Anyone who has spent 5 minutes with Lenore has felt her deep faith – that way she makes other people feel so special.  I know she'll get through this. I know because I cannot, and will not, imagine a world without her in it. 

But she needs financial help. Her medical bills are truly staggering. They barely held it
together for the last four years. Her husband, Alex, works two jobs and is on call nightly to try and keep up. Now, between the upcoming surgery and childcare costs, they can't make ends meet. 

Her journey began in March 2013. Following weeks of intense pain, Lenore had major surgery to remove an infection in her bladder (or what they suspected was an infection). A two hour surgery turned into six hours, and revealed a disease that no one, not even the most experienced surgeons, expected to find. 


Almost exclusively, older men get bladder cancer. Men who most likely smoke. Not young, healthy, mothers with passions for nutrition and exercise. Not my sister.

Since that day, Lenore has undergone more procedures and treatments than I can bring myself to count. She survived highly aggressive chemo, numerous rounds of BCG (immunotherapy for bladder cancer), recurring infections of her bladder and kidneys that are so incredibly painful, she comes close to losing consciousness. Because she is constantly going through treatments, she hasn't been able to return to work since her diagnosis (For 13 years she was an attorney in Family Court, prosecuting parents that abuse and neglect children). She lives her life half in the hospital, half at home. And with a baby and a 10-year-old, these unexpected hospital stays leave her scrambling to find care for her children. 

Because none of the treatments keep the cancer from returning, surgery is her last option. On May 23rd, Lenore will get her bladder removed, along with a urinary diversion, hysterectomy and abdomen wall reconstruction. This is a risky, invasive surgery, made even more complicated by her current weight of only 100 pounds. She'll be in the hospital for 10 days, and won't be able to lift her baby for at least six months.

She needs help. Lenore and Alex can't possibly take on all the expenses that come with this surgery, as the medical bills are stacking higher than they ever expected, and they will need 12 hours of childcare per day after the surgery, since Alex can't afford to take off from work.

Thanks for reading, and for donating if you're able. If you're not, please keep Lenore in your prayers and thoughts during this incredibly tough time.


Lenore is a devout Christian, and her faith in God has helped her get through the most difficult moments. She would want me to include some Scripture:

"It is written that there is a season for eveything in life: 

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8