Samara Says Bye Bye to Cancer
Donation protected
Thank you all so much, feeling blessed! Your support has lifted my spirit as I prepare for surgery and a good recovery. I will keep the GoFundMe open and welcome more donations. As I look at all the possibilities of my recovery, I am planning a more gradual return to my work schedule. Based on the medical advice that I received from my surgery team, it is better to be cautious, since I am NOT allowed to lift more then 10 pounds for six weeks. With this more gradual return and the gofundme fees, additional donations above the original goal of $10,000 will ensure that I can totally focus on having a good recovery and return to work in healthy manner. With gratitude & love, Samara
In late May, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. While the tumor was found early, I need to have surgery to remove it. As you can imagine, this diagnosis and the idea of surgery is very scary for me. It makes me extra anxious and sad since one of my dearest friends, Kirsten, passed away after fighting cancer, and my much-loved companion and service dog, Felix, unexpectedly and fast died due to cancer.
The last few months have been really hard for me, and I am realizing as I prepare for the next steps in this journey that I need help from all of you. While I have made big changes to my diet and lifestyle to be healthier in the past year, this cancer diagnosis means that I need to lean on you, my community, for support.
My surgery is scheduled for August 8. The surgery is to remove the tumor, and to give my doctor more information about how far along the cancer is. Depending on what the doctor finds, he may have to remove my right kidney completely. After the surgery, I will not be able to work and earn money for up to two months. I will need to rest and focus on my healing as much as possible. As a self-employed person who has already had to use my credit cards for basic expenses this past year while I worked fewer hours to take care of other health issues, I will need help covering my rent, utilities, food and other bills during this time.
My goal is to raise at least $10,000 to cover these basic living expenses. I humbly ask you to help me prioritize my healing by making a donation to my recovery fund.
If you’d like to learn more about kidney cancer, which is different than other cancers and can be difficult to diagnose and treat, you can read more here and here .
I am so grateful to have all of you—my partner Forest, and my family and friends—to reach out to for support. Thank you for your recent messages of encouragement, and for asking what you can do to be helpful. Please give whatever amount you feel moved to give to support me and my healing during this time. Every gift is a blessing and helps me know that I am not alone.
With gratitude,
Samara
In late May, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. While the tumor was found early, I need to have surgery to remove it. As you can imagine, this diagnosis and the idea of surgery is very scary for me. It makes me extra anxious and sad since one of my dearest friends, Kirsten, passed away after fighting cancer, and my much-loved companion and service dog, Felix, unexpectedly and fast died due to cancer.
The last few months have been really hard for me, and I am realizing as I prepare for the next steps in this journey that I need help from all of you. While I have made big changes to my diet and lifestyle to be healthier in the past year, this cancer diagnosis means that I need to lean on you, my community, for support.
My surgery is scheduled for August 8. The surgery is to remove the tumor, and to give my doctor more information about how far along the cancer is. Depending on what the doctor finds, he may have to remove my right kidney completely. After the surgery, I will not be able to work and earn money for up to two months. I will need to rest and focus on my healing as much as possible. As a self-employed person who has already had to use my credit cards for basic expenses this past year while I worked fewer hours to take care of other health issues, I will need help covering my rent, utilities, food and other bills during this time.
My goal is to raise at least $10,000 to cover these basic living expenses. I humbly ask you to help me prioritize my healing by making a donation to my recovery fund.
If you’d like to learn more about kidney cancer, which is different than other cancers and can be difficult to diagnose and treat, you can read more here and here .
I am so grateful to have all of you—my partner Forest, and my family and friends—to reach out to for support. Thank you for your recent messages of encouragement, and for asking what you can do to be helpful. Please give whatever amount you feel moved to give to support me and my healing during this time. Every gift is a blessing and helps me know that I am not alone.
With gratitude,
Samara
Fundraising team: Team Love (2)
Samara T. Love
Organizer
Berkeley, CA
Rory Brown
Team member
