Support Cookie's Final Wish: A Honeymoon Journey to Japan

Some say, "Life begins at 40." Imagine learning that yours will likely end around 40. I have a friend and amazingly talented artist named Cookie Gheysens that discovered she had termanal cancer has cancer shortly after she met the love of her life, now newlywed husband, and is now going through the needed steps to make her life as comfortable as possible. I asked Cookie to write me a little about what shes going through and what she wished for. Below was her actual message. Please read it and help us get to her final wish.

"Here's my background story.

My name is Cookie, I am Belgian, 49 years old.

I have been active for many years in the associative and charitable branch.

President of the Belgian cosplay association (BCD), then secretary, I am also part of a group called the 501st Legion, specialized in charitable actions (visits to disabled, sick and/or hospitalized children i, etc.) but in costumes from the Star Wars universe.

I was also an active member of Mistral Gagnant, a Belgian association supporting the realization of the dreams of very sick children (think of it as the Belgian "Make a Wish").

In 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (stage 3 triple negative carcinoma) and underwent a mastectomy, a full course of radiotherapy and harsh chemotherapy, and hoped the whole thing was "behind me." so to speak.

I continued to work and help with charitable works (particularly against cancer).

At that time, as sequel to the surgeries, I only suffered from a mobility disability in my right arm, due to the scars and missing musclrs in the back, that was taken to form a "new breast".

Then, in 2018 (6 years after - I was supposedly "in remission", out of danger), after moving in France, I learned that a relapse of cancer of the same type was happening, because certain cells “must have escaped the initial treatment”. Exceptpt this time I was Stage 4

The "new" tumor lodged itself between two muscles (necessary for breathing) so it cannot be removed, and metastases are appearing quickly in the bones and lymph nodes (I just came out of 3 weeks of hospitalization where we "sort of" managed to stabilize the pain).

I can barely use my right arm and hand, and my shoulder has shrunk 5 cm in width from various radiation treatments over the years.

The latest prognosis is that I have perhaps 2 to 3 years left, given the speed with which the metastases are progressing.

I therefore had to "accelerate" my life plans. I got married on 01/012/23.

My last goal to achieve is to visit Japan. I have dreamed of it for 42 years.

But in the current state of things, financially, it is impossible for us, in the time that the doctors have given me.

(We would like to leave from 4/17/25 to 5/20/2025. Why "so long"? Because in my current state of health, there are days when I can ONLY rest. Moving is complicated, I'm in a wheelchair. . All I know is that being on May 19, 2025, my 50th birthday, on the great pedestrian crossing "the Scramble" in Shibuya, would be my ultimate goal, my dearest wish.

And that without you, I I won't make it.

I hate asking for help for myself, I don't even know what to really tell you... Why would I deserve more than anyone else? I don't know...

We will buy gifts and souvenirs for all people who are willing to participate, of course!"

Again, let's help Cookie experience her last wish! An aproximation of LAST WISH expenses for a 12 day stay with 2 people in Japan

2 Flights average about $1,800.

Hotel / Airbnb. $1,900.

Food / Drinks. 2 people $600.

Uber personal driver.

$50. Hr / 2 Hr mim. $1,200.

Meds / Unexpected. $2,500.

TOTAL. $8,000.

Thank you,

Ricco Ross