Hannah's Hope Team

APRIL 10, 2025

Thank you!

To each and every one of you who donated to my GoFundMe, sent money to my Venmo, and checks to my home—thank you.

In just over a week, we raised over $90,000. I still can’t quite believe it.

The speed, the generosity, the number of people who showed up—I’ve been brought to tears every single day. It’s overwhelming, in the best way. I haven’t felt this loved and supported in a long time.

Like I’ve said, this treatment in Germany is my last hope. After exhausting nearly every option available here in the U.S., this next step holds the possibility of healing. Maybe even a cure.

Because of you, I can take it.

I don’t know how to properly say thank you for something this big. Just know that I carry your kindness with me into every day.

With love,

Hannah

P.S. I spoke with my radiologist and we will be able to go through with radiation on my pelvic tumor and my tumor adjacent to my L5 vertebrae!! Woohoo! My insurance granted authorization today, so I was able to schedule my pre-radiation appointment. Unfortunately, the first available appointment is on April 29th. Please pray and cross your fingers there is a cancellation before then, I am first on the waiting list. In the meantime, I will continue with the trial in Santa Monica. I will have scans done next week and those scans will determine whether or not I can continue on with the trial.

MARCH 2025

Hey there,

Those who know me well, know I struggle with asking for help. A huge fear of mine is becoming an imposition or burden in people’s lives. I am coming to you all with a HUGE ask. I am asking for your help in raising funds, so that I can receive a possible life saving cancer treatment in Germany.

I have been battling cancer for just over 3 1/2 years, and have exhausted almost all of my treatment options in the U.S. I had a meeting with my oncologist last week which left me fearful, facing an unfavorable future. I have tumors that are rapidly growing, and I am having increasing pain. Last week, UCSF’s tumor board met and discussed my case, specifically my pelvic tumor. The doctors determined surgery would not be a possibility, that it would be “really, really morbid” and I “would never be the same again.” My radiologist determined radiation is an option and I’m scheduled for a video visit with him on Monday. Please pray or send some good vibes my way!

I am incredibly grateful for all of your generous donations made to my GoFundMe campaign over the years. Your kindness and support mean the world to me and has made fighting cancer possible. Your partnership and prayers have enabled me to do therapies which I am certain have sustained my life to get me to this point. I have used the funds for travel while I participated in 2 clinical trials, medical bills, naturopathic appointments and testing, supplements, egg storage, therapy, massages, acupuncture, Eden Valley Institute, supplemented lost income, wigs & items used for surgeries, 3 radiation sessions, 34 chemo rounds & hospitalizations.

Last week I had a video meeting with the German oncologist who works at a German Center of Oncology that we have been working with for the past 10 months. We found this clinic through a friend with stage 4 cancer who was treated successfully. The doctor informed us that they were finally able to retrieve enough DNA, RNA, and active cancer cells from the latest (3rd) biopsy we sent. This means, they are able to create a vaccine from my tumor to fight off my cancer!!! This was the first piece of good news I have received from a doctor in 3 years. You cannot imagine the huge relief I felt! The vaccine offered in Germany is my last hope to not only stabilize my tumors, but to potentially cure me of my “incurable disease.”

While Germany is a go, treatment will not start for 3 long months from now. This means it is imperative I do everything I can to stop my pelvic tumor growth and the growth of the other tumors. It takes 12-14 weeks to produce the vaccine; it should be ready early to mid-June which coincides with the end of my school year. The vaccine is 12 injections given over 1 to 1 ½ years, every 4-6 weeks. I will go over in mid-June and have the first two injections a week apart. I plan to stay with my family and friends in Northern Ireland and England over the summer and have the next two injections without having to travel back and forth from the U.S.

Cancer is a financial burden, and the GoFundMe money has been a Godsend. As I said earlier, I struggle to ask for help; I am more than aware of the hardships taking place around the World. I know my life and situation could be far worse, and for that I am grateful. I am asking you to continue to partner with me financially and in prayer; I know the amount of $80,000 is a HUGE ask which covers the initial sequencing to determine if the vaccine could be made and the cost of making and administering the vaccine. I believe this oncology center in Germany is going to work miracles for my health. Germany is my “Hail Mary,” so to speak. If you’re reading this and feel led to help, can you please share my CaringBridge, GoFundMe, and/or Venmo (@Hannah-Zarubin) on your social media account, with your coworkers, your churches, clubs you belong to, etc. Any contributions raised will be earmarked for Germany only.

Never in a million years did I think I would be diagnosed with cancer, especially not an incurable cancer, in my late 20s. While I am strong and a fighter, fighting cancer would be nearly impossible without the love, support, and partnership from all of you. I am eternally grateful!

With so much love,

Hannah

JANUARY 2025

Hello Everyone,

Happy 2025! With the arrival of the New Year, I find it only fitting to update you all on where I am in my “fight” with cancer. This past year has been difficult for me, especially the past five months. I had been holding out on writing an update, with the hope that great news was in store, but it has not come yet… the keyword being “yet.” Towards the end of May some of my scans showed new and growing tumors. While the majority of my tumors were remaining stable, it became clear to my oncology medical team that the chemo I had been doing was no longer effective. My oncologist and I spoke about the future and decided that come November/December we needed to have a new treatment plan in place.

After that conversation, my mother and I started pursuing a treatment option in Germany. Long story short, this clinic in Germany can create a personalized vaccine from your own active tumor in order to treat your cancer; they are 80% successful if a they are able to create a vaccine. I sent tumor samples from a biopsy in June, but there was not enough DNA, RNA, and active cancer cells in the sample to test/create a vaccine. I am still working with the clinic and will continue to pursue this as an option. The scans done in mid-November revealed a new tumor and another growing tumor around my pelvis. UCSF and the clinic in Germany have been in communication to get a biopsy of these tumors. Unfortunately, my tumors are complex and it is difficult to get a sample with enough DNA, RNA, and active cancer cells, but that won’t stop us from trying again. While I tend to shy away from discussing money, I have paid an initial fee to pursue the vaccine in Germany. If we are able to get an adequate sample to Germany and they can create a vaccine, then the travel and treatment cost would be an additional $75,000.

When we found out in October/November that Germany was still tentative and that I had growing tumors, we began working with a cancer center in Santa Monica to find a clinical trial I qualified for. We worked with this cancer center 3 years ago, and the oncologist/director at this center has a close relationship with my oncologist, which is a blessing. In November I completed my 34th (and currently last) round of chemo; in fact, the Santa Monica doctor was the oncologist who got this chemo approved for use worldwide! I flew to Santa Monica in December and we discussed possible trials. There are two trials I could qualify for and I should be starting one of those trials in the upcoming weeks. Just like Germany, the travel to LA will be out of pocket also.

Cancer is cruel and exhausting. I feel like I am doing everything in my power to stay afloat and live a somewhat “normal” life. I haven’t had a clear treatment plan in months, and if these other avenues don’t work, I will have to start a new form of chemo where I would lose my hair again. I am really hoping bald Hannah doesn’t make a return in 2025, but if she does, so be it.

I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this journal entry and to all of you who have reached out, prayed, sent good vibes, and supported me in so many ways, including financial. It takes a village, doesn’t it? Please continue to pray for wisdom for us as we make decisions.

May you all have a beautiful start to 2025.

With Love, Hannah

October 2022:

It is always hard to follow Sasha’s gifted writings, but I’ll try . . .

We want to thank all of you for the love and support you are living out with us in this cancer battle. You are lifting us up when we don’t have the strength to continue on.

We come to you now as we are entering a new phase of Hannah’s battle as the cancer is growing once again. We are so grateful for the GoFundMe started 15 months ago when Hannah was first diagnosed and we didn’t even know how much we would need it. Your donations have covered so many costs – medical deductibles and copays, out of network doctors, acupuncture, physical therapy, supplements, Eden Valley, travel, an occasional treatment-targeted massage, and so much more. Those were all expenses Hannah had to pay while on disability from teaching last year.

As Hannah faces another round of chemo, her doctor anticipates that she can work 2-2 ½ out of every 3 weeks (chemo being every 3 weeks), and her substitute teacher’s salary is deducted from Hannah’s paycheck. We realize that there are many people with equally daunting financial challenges. We are very humbled to ask for your continued support, to help ease the burden of this ongoing fight.

We trust God as we continue the battle. He is providing wisdom, strength, comfort and hope. This year I have personally leaned on the story in 2nd Chronicles 20 where King Jehoshaphat was being approached by a vast army. Although alarmed, he sought the Lord and he tells God, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you”. A priest answers, “This is what the Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but Gods’”. (Great story to finish btw).

I cannot say it any better – the battle is God’s, not ours; we do not know what to do but our eyes are on Him; sometimes we are afraid and discouraged but we have hope; we continue to praise Him for His goodness as we move forward against this enemy. Thank you for moving forward with us.

God bless you, the Zarubin’s

August 2021:

If you know her, you love her. She’s the fiercest Taco Bell loving, puppy snuggling, first grade teacher we know. Hannah is a loyal friend, a hilarious family member, a pseudo chicken farmer, and she has always been a fighter.

In mid-July Hannah developed severe pain her her back. It was originally believed to be muscle pain or recurring kidney stones. As her doctor hunted for issues with the kidney, he discovered that Hannah had masses around her ovary and kidney. Later that day they discovered masses in the pelvis, soft tissue near the femur, and something inside the femur bone. Through testing with UCSF, Hannah's oncologists discovered masses on her spine and rib.

This August, Hannah was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

She has been under the care of excellent oncologists, surgeons, nurses, you name it! They have been proactive and positive, and Hannah has continued to make them laugh with outrageous jokes and witty sarcasm (no surprise). Her team is prepared to treat this cancer with chemo, radiation, and surgery. Hannah’s first surgery will be on one of the tumors on her thoracic spine. After she is cleared by her spinal surgeon and neurosurgeon, she will begin chemotherapy. Her doctors expect this to be a tough battle, but Hannah is up for it, and so is her team!

We are hoping to raise money to help cover Hannah’s medical expenses and reduce the financial stress she will experience as treatment goes on. Because Hannah is on leave at work, she will also soon lose part of her salary to cover the cost of providing a substitute teacher to her first graders.

Hannah has received overwhelming support (thank YOU). And, our whole family has felt the peace of prayer and the strength of our community. We have needed you deeply. We appreciate your support and encouragement.