If you know my Mom, Cheresse, you know she has spent her life taking care of everyone else. For more than 40 years, she has dedicated her career to women’s health, while spending her personal life serving, encouraging, and showing up for the people around her. She’s the person who would give you the shirt off her back without thinking twice.
Now, she’s the one who needs us.
My Mom is battling stage 4 metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Unlike early-stage breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer has spread beyond the breast and is currently considered incurable. Treatment is ongoing, with the goal of controlling the disease, extending her life, and giving her as much quality time as possible.
This journey has been anything but easy.
Between chemotherapy, severe allergic reactions to treatments and medications, unexpected complications, and multiple hospitalizations, the physical and emotional toll has been overwhelming. This past month alone has been especially difficult, with hospital stays, frightening medical emergencies, and more uncertainty than any family should have to navigate.
And while we continue to pray for healing and more time together, there is another reality of cancer that isn’t talked about enough: the financial burden.
Cancer is expensive. Really expensive.
Between medical bills, insurance, hospitlzations, and everyday living expenses, the costs add up quickly. And those are just the financial costs. They don’t begin to account for the physical exhaustion, emotional stress, and constant uncertainty that come with this diagnosis.
As her daughter, one of the hardest parts of this journey has been watching someone who has always been so independent and generous now face circumstances completely outside of her control.
My mom would never ask for financial help herself. In fact, she’d probably be the first person to tell me not to do this. But the reality is that we need all hands on deck.
The last thing I want my Mom worrying about is how she’s going to pay for treatment, insurance, or cover her everyday expenses. I want her energy focused on fighting this disease, healing from the complications, and enjoying every possible moment with the people who love her.
That’s why we’ve created this fundraiser.
Every dollar raised will go toward helping my Mom manage medical expenses and everyday living costs, easing some of the financial pressure that comes with this diagnosis.
But I also want to make something very clear: support doesn’t always have to be financial.
A meal, a prayer, a text message, sharing this fundraiser, or simply checking in means just as much to our family. We know everyone has their own responsibilities and struggles, and we never want anyone to feel obligated to give.
We see every act of kindness as love in action.
Our family has been incredibly blessed by the people who have walked alongside us through this journey. Some days have been unbelievably hard, but the love and generosity we’ve experienced have reminded us that we aren’t carrying this alone.
If you feel led to donate, share this fundraiser, or simply keep my mom in your prayers, please know how deeply grateful we are.My mom has spent her life showing up for others. Now we’re asking our community to show up for her.
With love and deep gratitude,
Kayla & Family
Please feel free to share this fundraiser on your personal page. Every share helps us reach more people, spread awareness about metastatic breast cancer, and surround my Mom with the support she deserves.
