Support Yanina's Cancer Treatment and Recovery

A message from Sarah

I am setting up this GoFundMe for my dear friend Yanina, who is one of the most authentic and generous spirits I know. Nina is an independent business owner and single mom here in Asheville, and spends her life's work connecting people to the natural world, spreading inspiration and beauty to all she encounters, and helping others. Now Yanina needs our help in return. When I asked if I could set up a GoFundMe for her, she was very hesitant to ask for help. I'm so glad she has changed her mind and allowed us to lend a hand. Please read below for details on Yanina's situation in her own words.

A message from Yanina

My name is Yanina and I am a mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated by the intersection of spirituality and nature and that is what I have devoted my life to for the past 10 plus years. I am the Founder and Guide at Activated Earth Healing Arts and Learning Space. I am passionate about empowering others through the transformational power and beauty of Nature.

A Tragedy

On May 1 st 2024 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, after nearly 5 weeks of abdominal pain that I couldn’t shake. On May 23 rd I was admitted to Mission Hospital for a radical hysterectomy and debulking surgery to remove as much as the cancer as possible. I spent 8 days in the hospital, and I am now recovering.

May 2024 was a horrific time in my life that I never thought would ever happen to me. When I got the diagnosis I went into shock, then disbelief, denial, and then I plummeted into deep despair and piercing fear that lasted about 4 weeks. During this time, I became bedridden with pain.

The Turning Point

After those tormenting weeks of grieving the potential loss of this beautiful life I have worked so hard to cultivate, my daughter’s life, my loved one’s lives, and how unfair, tragic, and unfathomable this all was, a shift started to emerge within me. It was subtle at first but then this change in perspective began to get stronger and stronger with every compassionate conversation with friends and family, every cancer research article read, every survivor video watched, and every synchronicity seemingly guiding my

footsteps and lighting my way.

I want you to know that I am choosing to see this as a spiritual initiation. A rebirthing of self to wholeness. An attempt to draw closer to God/Source/My Higher Self. They say that suffering causes our focus to turn inward, to face those parts of ourselves we might otherwise ignore. The truth is that I had lost myself. The weight of the human condition, my human condition, the collective human condition, became too much to bear.

My focus moving forward will be on saving my life with the help of my support system- my beloved family and friends, my team of doctors, and my community. I will do everything in my power to continue to live a long, happy, and healthy life.

Turning to My Community

Admittedly, I have always been the kind of person that would never ever ask for help with anything (not even from family) and if I ever dared to do so, I would always have something to give in return. But honestly, just the thought of asking for help made me very uncomfortable. Today I know that being unable to ask for help is likely a trauma response and very unhealthy.

I come to my community today humbly and with great reverence for each and every one of you, to ask for help. I can’t do this alone. I will be seeing an Integrative Oncologist here in Asheville and they do not take insurance. I am a small business owner and have been unable to work since April. As a small business owner, I have no medical leave or benefits. I have raised my daughter alone and have not had a partner in over a decade and therefore have been unable to save money for emergencies.

There are treatments and supplements that I will need to purchase out-of-pocket to receive the care I need in an attempt to save my life. I will detail some of the expenses for the next 6 months below (this is not an extensive list):

Integrative Oncologist appointments: $1700

Testing and bloodwork: $2500

Oncology treatment 1: $3000

Oncology treatment 2: $3250

Supplements for 6 months: $1750

Every penny counts so if you can only give $5 that’s okay too. If you can’t help right now, I completely understand, times are challenging for us all right now. Maybe you can share my campaign on your social media, that would be just as meaningful, and I would be so grateful.

With Love,

Yanina