Help Angie Fight: Your Support Means Everything

Hello my name is Jessica. For those who know me well or not at all, I'd like to share a bit about my life. 

During college, my parents decided to separate, believing it was the best choice for both themselves and their children. Not long after, my dad moved on and found himself a new wife, Angie. I began to see their relationship unfold and instead of feeling joy in his new found happiness I felt envious and angry. It was difficult to see my father become a husband and do the things a husband should do when my memories of him as a husband to my mother were anything but. He became soft, kind, and caring. I couldn't help but question what my mother and I lacked that made us less deserving of this side of him. He was suddenly a better man and I was left bitter and resentful.

After graduation I lived with him and Angie and I began to see how and why he was changing. Angie’s presence brought out a softer, more patient side of him because she herself was kind, loving, and generous. Despite her own past experiences she showed only grace and extended her warmth to me. Unlike me, she upholds her humility and does not clutch onto past indignations in fists of anger. She has embraced my father in his imperfectness, while also bringing him a new sense of purpose. Most importantly she has brought him a love that he very well may have never been able to experience otherwise. I am profoundly grateful for what she continues to bring into our lives and thank God for blessing us with Angie.

There's so much more to this story—so many highs and lows—that I wish I could fully share with you on how immensely she has impacted our family. The laughter, the playful banter, and the joyful connections she has brought into our lives have been immeasurable. My relationship with my dad, once strained and seemingly beyond repair, was slowly healing in ways I never thought possible because of Angie..

But now, I must share a different side of our story, one I hope you may never have to face. In a sobering statistic, 40% of Americans will develop cancer at some point in their lives. You might have experienced this yourself or know someone who has. Our family has become part of this statistic as Angie has been fighting stomach cancer since 2019. We were hopeful when she went into remission, but the cancer has sadly returned and spread. She now continues her fight going back and forth from the ICU. While Angie became a lifeline to rehabilitating our family, she now holds onto her own under more grave circumstances.

I’m not usually one to share personal matters online, and it feels difficult to ask for help when I know everyone has their own challenges and burdens. Yet, I find myself reaching out because my heart tells me that, for those who can, there is an opportunity to make a difference.  Despite the challenges in our relationship, I am determined to help in any way I can, given Angie’s current condition.

If you are able to offer support, it would mean the world to me if you could assist my dad with their current medical expenses. If you are unable to offer financial support I understand completely and simply ask for your prayers as Angie continues her fight in the ICU. 

If there’s anything you could take away from my experience it’s this: Don’t take anyone for granted, learn to forgive, and cherish everyone in your life. Health is wealth, and most of all fuck cancer. 

(Venmo: @Jessica-Kim-51)