Sue Lepage Cancer fund

This is my mom, Sokhoeun, but many (if not all) in her life know her as Sue. If you’ve crossed paths with her for even a couple of minutes, you’d know her as an unbelievably kind, selfless, funny, and an all-around wonderful woman. For her entire life, she’s only ever thought of how much she could give back to the world and the unconditional love she has for her family. She has myself (her eldest son), her youngest son Zachary and his two sons Davey and Hendrix, and her husband Peter as her immediate family. Along with her loving parents who adopted her when she was 8, many brothers and sisters, an even larger extended family, and amazing best friend Rita, who has been with her through thick and thin since high school. To say that we’re a large and diverse family would be an understatement!

 

Earlier this week, in late May, my mom went to the ER for what we all had assumed was going to be a simple and easy to treat diagnosis for her upset stomach that was bothering her for the past month. The hospital admitted her, and to all of our shock and horror she was diagnosed with Stage 4 rectal cancer that has also spread to her liver and lungs.

My mom is the most kindhearted and hardworking person you could meet, and this news is entirely unfounded and unfair. Those who know her know that she’s never smoked even once in her entire life, has maybe one glass of wine a month, walks several miles a day, and is overall the picture of health. Never in this lifetime would anyone use “Sue” and “cancer” in the same sentence. She loves her job caring for the elderly in various nursing homes as a Recreation Supervisor, and through that has made countless friends and connections, all of which love her as much as her own family. We’ve all taken this news to heart, and although we are numbed, saddened, and terrified, we are ready to do everything we possibly can to help her fight this battle and win.

 

Mom starts her chemotherapy regimen this week and will be out of work focusing all her energy on keeping her spirits up and recuperating from the most challenging time she and our whole family will have to go through. Even though money has not been our immediate concern this week, the bills will soon and surely start adding up.

 

In this time of need, we ask that all of our family and friends, and anyone else who my mom has impacted, please consider sharing what you can. Every little bit helps, and if you’re unable to donate - that’s more than okay; we just ask that you share this page with as many people as possible.

 

Please keep my mom and family in your thoughts and prayers, and thank you so much for your time.

 

Riley Hansen