Help Catherine Fight Colon Cancer at 30 years old

I am raising money for my sister Catherine Layman-Travagliato, who was just diagnosed with colon cancer, and we are waiting to find out which stage it is. Catherine is only 30 years old and married the love of her life, Joe, only 3 months ago.

This news is especially heartbreaking for our family, as it comes just two years after we lost my sister Mary Layman-Nicolosi in 2022 to necrotizing MRSA pneumonia and COVID-19. Mary fought valiantly but passed away on July 22, 2022, after being on a ventilator for 12 days. She left behind her daughter, Abigail, who is now 10 years old and being raised by our parents. To think we could lose another sister, and my parents, another daughter, feels unbearable.

On Christmas Eve, Catherine's life took a devastating turn. At just 30 years old, Catherine thought she was experiencing pregnancy symptoms, an exciting possibility for her and her new husband, Joe, as they dreamed of expanding their family. But instead of receiving joyful news, she left the emergency room with a shocking diagnosis: three abdominal masses, one in her transverse colon, another on her liver, and a 4-inch mass near her ovary.

On January 13, 2025, following a colonoscopy, Catherine was diagnosed with transverse colon cancer. Additional testing is ongoing to determine if the masses in her liver and near her ovaries are also cancerous. Catherine and Joe, who were just married in October 2024, now face the fight of their lives as newlyweds.

Catherine carries the family's health insurance, which is critical for her treatment, but we are unsure how much longer she will be able to work as she begins chemotherapy and other intensive cancer treatments. Catherine just started her new job as a medical assistant two months ago after several years of attending nursing school. The financial burden on them is already significant, and the emotional toll is overwhelming. Catherine does not carry any life insurance.

Adding to this tragedy is Catherine's family history. Her father passed away at just 34 years old from colon cancer, and her mother is a breast cancer survivor. As a child, Catherine spent time in foster care because both of her parents were battling cancer with limited family support. She was eventually adopted and still keeps in contact with her biological mom. Now, she faces the possibility of being unable to conceive naturally due to treatment if she survives this. Despite these challenges, she remains hopeful, dreaming of one day adopting a child to complete their family. Catherine's adoptive parents adopted 6 children from foster care in addition to having 3 of their own.

We are asking for your kindness and generosity in helping Catherine and Joe through this incredibly difficult time. Any donations will go directly toward medical expenses, bills, and living costs as they navigate this long and uncertain road ahead.

Catherine is a fighter, but she and Joe need the strength of a community to carry them through this journey. Your support, whether through a donation, a prayer, or sharing her story, means the world to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for keeping Catherine, Joe, and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Together, we can provide the hope and support they need to face this battle.