A Thank You Letter to All Who Donated

These things are keeping me in good spirits these days. The highlight of last month was a trip home to Ontario.

Dear friends, family, and beautiful strangers,

I’ve written and rewritten this letter in my head more times than I can count, trying to find the right words — and still, they all feel too small.

How do you thank people for helping you stay alive?

You turned a very hard thing into something softer. You made it possible for me to breathe a little easier and to focus on healing instead of spiralling about logistics. That is a gift I will never forget.

Thank you.

Whether you’ve known me for years or stumbled upon my story through a friend of a friend and all the in between… whether your name showed up in the donor list or you chose to give anonymously… whether you left a message or quietly sent love into the world — please know this:

I felt it.

Every single gesture landed. And each one stitched a little more strength into me.

This GoFundMe was not easy for me to accept. Asking for help rarely is. But what you’ve given me — beyond the financial support (which I truly needed) — is a reminder that community, even in its quietest form, is powerful.

While I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who gave, shared, and reached out, there’s one person I need to thank by name — because without her, none of this would have happened.

Some people show up quietly. Hayley showed up like a force of nature. 

I never had the courage to ask for help on this scale on my own. But Hayley did. She saw the toll this drug’s cost was taking — not just financially, but emotionally, physically, spiritually — and she said, “Let me carry this part.” And then she did. She poured her heart into telling my story with honesty, urgency, and deep compassion. She was determined to give me a chance — not just at more time, but at more life. Her bravery in asking for what I couldn’t is part of why I can still walk forward, but I’m not alone this time. 

I’ve always believed that beauty lives in the small moments — the quiet check-ins, the unexpected kindness, the steady presence of people who care. Reading your messages and seeing names from every corner of my life has felt like walking down memory lane with my heart wide open.

That’s what this has been — like being seen, like being lifted, like being loved by a thousand gentle hands — past, present, and the beautifully unexpected.

You’re part of my story now. Not just the hard parts, but the part where people came together and reminded me what love in action looks like.

With a full and grateful heart,

Kelly

Health Update: Since the GoFundMe went live, I’ve been able to start the new treatment with a little more peace and a lot more hope. I’ll share more soon, but for now, thank you for giving me this chance.

If you’d like to know more about my 7+ year journey living with cancer — and continue walking this path with me — you can find me on Instagram @_lavenderlemon

If you would still like to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-kellyo