Grace's Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment

Thanksgiving 2022 was very different this year for my family; it was the day my mom, Grazyna Obtulowicz, was finally discharged from the hospital. Earlier in November, she experienced a seizure that landed her in the hospital for the next couple of weeks. She endured various procedures, imaging, and exams, which resulted in a diagnosis of metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer to the bone and dura of the brain. Five years ago, Grace was diagnosed with breast cancer; she was treated and considered in remission. This summer, she mentioned increased hip, shoulder, and lower back pain, which we all attributed to aging. We never suspected cancer in the bone; this diagnosis has shocked everyone who knows my mom.

Grazyna, affectionately known as Grace or mama Grace to those who know her, has the kindest and most giving spirit; as a nurse in Poland and America, Grace has taken care of others throughout her life and generally gives more of herself than she takes. So and so that throughout her stay in the hospital, she has repeatedly questioned hospital staff and doctors why they are so generously providing her with exceptional medical care. They consistently reminded her that caring for her is part of their job.

She is generally in good health and has a strong and independent drive. She immigrated from Poland as a political refugee in the late 80s and has not only worked her way up in this country to become a nurse, but also worked hard on raising two fiercely independent daughters as a single parent. My sister Joanna is currently by her side and has been for the past few weeks through the hospital stay and doctor visits. My support is more distant as I’m located transcontinentally.

One of those ways I’d like to support my mom is by reaching out to community. My mom is primarily housebound right now; she cannot drive for the next year due to her recent seizure. Additionally, she has difficulty with mobility caused by hip pain and a fracture in her spine from compromised bone integrity as well as coordination difficulty from dizziness due to tumor burden in the brain. All this makes working to cover expenses difficult.

Mama Grace is not accustomed to reaching out for help, so I would like to do that for her (with her blessing granted, of course). Right now, financial support would be the most beneficial and easiest to ask for. Any donation will help my mom. The areas we could use financial support include:

I understand that finances are challenging for most, especially around the holiday season. If you are in the NYC area and would like to support Grace through other means, please feel free to contact me privately and offer suggestions.

Thank you for reading our story and getting to know my mama. I hope this fundraiser not only offers financial support for my family under these challenging circumstances, but also builds strength and generates connection through community. Mama Grace is such a blessing to me and it’s an honor to share a piece of her with you.