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Support Laura's Fight Against Stage 4 Cancer

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Hello there! My name is Joanne, and I wanted to share this story with you in the hopes that you can join me in helping someone special return to a healthy life where she can continue to help her sons grow into amazing human beings. Laura Waite (neé Smith), a single mother of 3 brave and rambunctious sons, is again fighting a battle that no single mom should have to fight the fight against cancer.

In 2018, Laura was originally diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer while she was pregnant with her 3rd son, Ethan. After Ethan was born, Laura underwent months of chemotherapy. As the months rolled into years, Laura underwent a mastectomy, radiation, and additional surgical procedures with the hopes that she would be rid of cancer forever. Motivated by her love for her children and her desire to do everything possible to ensure their basic needs were fulfilled, Laura gritted fiercely through each painful and challenging procedure that was part of her treatment. During this time, she had the support of family, friends, and her church in California to help ease several physical and financial burdens, which enabled her to focus on healing from her treatment. Laura has often said, “I can do hard things,” and after seeing her endure her painful treatment with the boundless determination to live for her children, I knew she was right.

In 2020, it seemed Laura’s recovery was steadily improving and she would finally be able to put her battle with cancer behind her. Once Laura completed her treatment, she decided to move from her native home in California to Utah. When she settled in Utah, Laura established her career as a social worker to help people with anxiety disorders, she re-entered “normal” life, and she focused on being the best mom she could be to her sons. Being a driven and hard-working individual, Laura was elated to simply return to the workforce and watch her babies grow.

However, as everyone knows, cancer is not a one-trick enemy and often mercilessly robs people of everything. In 2022, Laura started experiencing lingering pains in her back and hip region. After trying to mitigate these pains on her own with OTC pain meds and getting no relief, she sought medical assistance. This resulted in being dropkicked by a diagnosis of Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. The pain Laura felt was found to have been caused by multiple lesions that the Stage 4 metastatic cancer created on her spine and pelvic bones.

This time around, Laura is again determined to face the painful unknown for her children: Lincoln (8 years old), Benjamin (5 years old), and Ethan (3 years old).
Nonetheless, the circumstances Laura now faces, aside from new rounds of unfamiliar treatments, will be extremely grueling. Laura currently lives with her 3 children in Utah - 1 of them being a special needs child who is physically impaired and required to undertake injections and physical therapy to improve his mobility on a regular basis. Laura is doing her best to give her children their essential needs and an environment to thrive in, but she will undoubtedly be financially burdened by being unable to work, which will severely impact her ability to pay for rent, medical bills, and basic necessities (i.e. utilities, food for her family, childcare, etc.). Unfortunately, Laura does not have any other sources of financial support for her children, and she will be at an extreme loss while she proceeds with this new round of cancer treatment which will render her unable to generate any income for a significant period of time.

I created this GoFundMe to help Laura battle cancer once again and lessen the strain from worrying about the financial burdens associated with medical bills, rent, utilities, and her children’s basic needs. It is uncertain exactly how long Laura will need to refrain from working while obtaining treatment, but for right now, the goal for this GoFundMe is intended to ease Laura’s financial burdens for the upcoming months. Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead, Laura will need to be at countless doctor appointments, undergo numerous scans, resume radiation therapy, and take several medications. As you can imagine, the normal costs of everyday living for her and her children, combined with these upcoming medical costs, can be astronomical. While her California support group cannot physically be in Utah this time around, I believe this is one of the best ways we can help from afar. This will enable Laura to be able to concentrate on getting well and fighting this wicked disease once again. I urge you to pitch in whatever amount you can to help Laura get through this. Any amount will help, and if you are unable to donate any funds, I humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family, if possible.

I think back to the numerous times Laura has shown up and supported so many with her generosity, time, money, as well as encouragement, and it brings me to tears that she is required to endure the battle with cancer even further. The impact that Laura has had on my life and her determination to live for her children can never be measured.

I cannot thank you enough for caring about Laura and supporting her during this time.
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Donations 

  • Sierra Greenway
    • $100
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100
    • 2 yrs
  • Lindsey Aune
    • $50
    • 2 yrs
  • Ashley Aune
    • $100
    • 2 yrs
  • Erin Hanley
    • $50
    • 2 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Joanne Figueroa
Organizer
Irvine, CA
Laura Waite
Beneficiary

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