Help Rachel Provide Hospice Care for Her Sister

Hello friends, thank you for taking a moment to read my GoFundMe page. As many of you know, my big sister, Jen, has been battling metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer is when cancer cells have spread from the breast to other parts of the body. It's advanced (stage 4) breast cancer.

 

Back in September, the cancer seemed to be contained. Her numbers were good and the chemo was working. My family had hope. Then, a month later, the chemo stopped working and everything went downhill. We started to fear that the worst was coming, but it was hard to understand the severity and immediacy of the situation when she was still so vibrant. We thought there would still be trials and treatments. We thought there would still be a couple of years left. 

On Monday, Nov 15 I got the call that my sister was in the ER for an emergency MRI. She suddenly couldn't walk or remember the ages of her kids. I got on the first flight I could. On Friday, Nov 19 we learned that cancer spread to her brain and spinal fluid. The next and only step left was home hospice care. 

At most, she has 6 months left to live and the time could be much shorter. She will require 24-hour care with two helpers at all times. Her health has deteriorated rapidly before our eyes and even if she lives for 6 months, we don't know how long we'll be able to communicate with her the way we always have.  I would like to be one of her caretakers so that I can hold onto these last precious moments, while also providing support to my 9-year-old niece and 5-year-old nephew who are about to have their hearts broken. This will be the hardest thing I have ever done. When she passes, I want to be here for my parents when they lose their oldest daughter.  

This will only be possible with your help. I need you and I simply cannot do this on my own. 

We planned on moving our little family from Chicago to Connecticut after we had some time to save, finish studies, and get jobs, but life didn't work out that way. We couldn't have predicted how quickly things would change. I turn to my friends and loved ones to humbly ask for help. 

 

I am trying to raise $4,000 to cover the expenses of breaking my lease, moving across the country, and securing an apartment as quickly as possible. Anything would be appreciated to help my family get through this time and help me be there for my big sister as she was there for me my entire life.

 

Thank you,

Stephenie Rachel Nurmi