Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there, especially to our incredible mom, Candee! She’s been the rock of our family, always putting others before herself and spreading love and kindness wherever she goes. Her strength and resilience have been an inspiration to us all, even when faced with the wild ride of her cancer journey.

The last week has been a rollercoaster. Candee wasn’t feeling well, with chills, abdominal pain, and not her usual energetic self. Her doctor suggested a trip to the emergency room just to be safe. And, like any of our trips to the ER, it turned into a mini vacation at Abbott where she was admitted for observation. Tests came back negative, but the doctors diagnosed her with colangitus, a fancy term for blocked bile ducts causing liver swelling and sometimes an infection. After three days of hospital fun, she’s back home and feeling good.

In our last update, we mentioned a biopsy, but the doctors nixed that idea due to the small size of the tumors in question. So, Candee’s eyeing a new oral chemo pill, once she’s got clearance from her medical team. Signs are pointing in the right direction!

In some really big news, after 52 years as a hairstylist, Candee has decided to hang up her blow-dryer, clippers, and shears. We tried to get her to retire 12 years ago, but her love for her clients and passion for making others feel good about themselves kept her going. She’s now thrilled to focus on her other passions, like her grandchildren, family, friends, and artwork. For the first time since she was 19, she won’t be lugging around an appointment book!

Please keep Candee in your thoughts and prayers as she continues this journey. Your love and support mean everything to us. Whether you’re a grand, foster, step, soon-to-be, pet, or just a mom, know that you are appreciated more than you’ll ever know.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there!

Much love,

Steph, Scott, and Steve