Help Lisa Survive Breast Cancer (Now Stage IV Metastatic)
Hi there! I’m Kate, one of Lisa’s oldest and best friends. I’m also a member of her Breast Cancer Care Soul Sister Tribe. We love and admire Lisa’s grit, her relentless optimism, her boundless creativity, and her resourcefulness.
However, we also know she can’t do it alone. So we’ve created this GoFundMe to raise funds to support Lisa and her young daughter Summer as Lisa undergoes treatment for breast cancer.
Lisa was first diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer (DCIS) in April 2018. Shortly after obtaining a second opinion from a renowned cancer hospital in Boston, she began ten months of comprehensive testing, which included multiple mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies. She also re-committed to an intensive holistic lifestyle, which she found had once helped her successfully manage a benign pituitary brain tumor and two previously diagnosed autoimmune diseases. For several months, she and her providers continued to monitor the DCIS.
In March 2020, just days before the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, Lisa underwent scheduled follow-up testing. It was the news everyone dreads: her previously non-invasive breast cancer had progressed to a Stage 3 invasive cancer, with a positive lymph node.
Due to restrictions on surgery mandated by the pandemic, Lisa began hormone therapy and underwent a battery of additional tests. She struggled with the hormone therapy, which her body did not tolerate well, but remained committed to her daily holistic regimen -- eating a mostly organic and plant-based diet, juicing, exercising, and meditating daily. By October 2020, her tumor had shrunk by almost 35 percent. She felt encouraged, strong, vibrant, and ready to take on her next healing journey chapter with vigor.
Unfortunately, life threw Lisa a few more curveballs.
After a stressful winter that upended her family life, Lisa began a new chapter as a single mom. By spring, her tumor had begun to grow again. Frustrated with the path she’d been on, Lisa sought out a new treatment team, with the goal of finding one that would more fully consider her complete medical history when determining treatment, and remain open to her continuing on her holistic path, now led by a board-certified naturopathic doctor.
On September 8, 2021, Lisa began chemotherapy at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Though it’s been a long and winding road, she feels profoundly blessed, and remains confident that she is exactly where she’s meant to be. It means everything to Lisa, and to the people who love her, to see her at peace, to know that she’s in good hands, and to trust that her care team has not just her back but her whole body.
Which brings us back to the purpose of this fundraiser.
Chemo is not fun for anybody, but Lisa has endured a particularly grueling acute reaction to it -- a reaction so severe it necessitated delaying her next treatment so she had enough time to heal and recover her strength before she had to do it again.
This only underscores the importance of providing Lisa with the resources necessary to ensure that she has what she needs to survive this treatment. She is grateful for the friends and family who have rallied to help with her various boots-on-the-ground needs, and would be grateful for anyone else who might be willing to participate in her healing journey by donating to her GoFundMe.
In general, these funds will support:
- Uncovered medical and holistic expenses
- Monthly bills and utilities
- Organic meal prep and fresh-made juices
- Travel expenses to Boston for appointments and infusions
Please help us help Lisa survive breast cancer. The world’s a far better place with her in it.
Thank you for being here, for taking the time to read this, and for helping as you’re able.
With love and gratitude on behalf of our Lala Lisa,
Kate, along with Lisa’s Breast Cancer Care Soul Sisters: Kelley, Vicky, Allison, Lynda, Sarah, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Emma, + Anne
To learn more of Lisa’s story, please visit her blog at loverla.com and follow her on Instagram at @heyloverla.