My name is Kristen, and I’m a single mom of three. Since May, I have been more than 2,600 miles away from our home in Hawaii, staying in Washington while my 12-year-old son, Avery, receives specialized treatment for an extremely rare liver cancer called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma.

Right now, I have no income, my savings and available resources have been exhausted, and I desperately need help keeping our family financially afloat while I continue caring for Avery.

Even though we have been in Washington for months, our bills back home in Hawaii have never stopped. I still have nearly $3,000 in rent every month so my children have a home to return to, along with utilities, phone bills, groceries, transportation, and everyday necessities. At the same time, I have expenses here in Washington while getting Avery to treatment and caring for him around the clock.

I have reached the point where I simply cannot cover everything on my own anymore.

Avery’s cancer journey has been incredibly difficult. He has already gone through chemotherapy, major liver surgery, additional cancer treatment, immunotherapy, and radiation. His surgery required removing a large portion of his liver and reconstructing one of the largest blood vessels in his body. We prayed that surgery had removed all of the cancer, but afterward we learned that residual cancer remained in an area where another surgery would be too dangerous.

That meant we could not go home. His treatment had to continue here in Washington.

For months, my entire life has revolved around getting Avery through treatment, appointments, scans, medications, side effects, and everything that comes with caring for a child fighting cancer. I cannot work a normal job while we are living away from home and while Avery needs me with him.

I am asking for help with the basic things that are keeping me awake at night: rent, food, transportation, utilities, phone bills, household expenses, and the cost of eventually getting our family safely back home to Hawaii when Avery is medically cleared to return.

I am not trying to fund anything extravagant. I am trying to keep a roof over my children’s heads, food available, the bills paid, and enough money to get Avery where he needs to go for treatment.

As a mother, it is incredibly hard to admit that I need this much help. But I have used what I had, stretched every dollar as far as I could, and exhausted the resources available to us. I cannot allow financial hardship to interfere with Avery receiving the care he needs.

Avery is only 12 years old. He loves computers, coding, gaming, building operating systems, learning how things work, and dreaming about all the places he wants to travel someday. He has endured more than any child should ever have to, and through everything, he continues to fight.

Right now, I need to be able to focus on being his mom instead of wondering how I am going to pay our next rent bill or buy groceries.

Every donation will directly help our family with rent, food, transportation, bills, and basic necessities while Avery continues cancer treatment. No amount is too small. And if you cannot donate, please consider sharing our fundraiser. A share can put Avery’s story in front of someone who may be able to help.

Thank you for reading our story, for caring about Avery, and for helping me keep our family stable while my son continues the fight of his life.

With all my gratitude,
Kristen — Avery’s Mom