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Amara and Family and breast cancer

Seattle, WA

Story

Hi friends and family, this little adventure started in December when I found a lump in my right breast. Several weeks/appointments later I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma (at that point grade 2, measuring stage 1 at 1.2cm). On March 3rd, after 2 months of waiting, workup tests and meeting Doctors, I had a right Mastectomy with expander placement (for later reconstruction) and lymph node biopsy. My final pathology was a stage 2 Mucinous carcinoma (grade 3, estrogen+ and HER2 + for those who like clinical details). My lymph nodes didn’t show cancer, and my surgical margins were negative indicating they got all the cancer. So yay for that! I’ll start chemotherapy + immunotherapy April 9th and it’ll go through July. I’ll continue immunotherapy infusions every 3 weeks for a year and have hormone therapy for 5yrs. Next year, when I am eligible for FMLA again I plan to get reconstructive surgery. Caring for our 3 kids with their various health, learning and personality needs already had me feeling maxed out before diagnosis. All the kids have sleep issues, so there is no after-bedtime to catch up on house/adult responsibilities. We are so full of gratitude for how our friends and family have come around us and carried us with their love and support. I am recovering well from surgery because of it, and rather than just fear and overwhelm with what is ahead, I feel hopeful and calm knowing you’ve all got our backs.


Special Notes

How to help: Opportunities to help in person with rides, childcare, cleaning and meals are on the calendar below and will continue to be added as appointments are made for the next 5months while treatment is very time consuming/demanding. In general, I’ve found it too stressful and complicated to reach out individually with requests for help and give detailed updates .( I love little “thinking of you” texts or hearing about your life or answering really specific questions). So even my mom is using this page to let me know what rides/kid help they can do and get treatment details. Super specific offers like “I’d have free time Friday afternoon to help in some way” or “I actually enjoy mopping, can I come mop?” are also totally welcome 😄 Right here are some ongoing needs and also lovely ways you can brighten our days. We have no expectations 😊 Gwen babysitting 👧🏼        Fortunately, I’ve been able to schedule most of my appointments for mornings before Jonathan goes to work/his day off. So there is occasionally a specific babysitting time we need covered, but mostly we could just use help getting Gwen out/entertained. She really delights in mischief if any hint of boredom sets in, but as long as she has someone to play with her/be her audience she’s delightful and down for whatever. So if you have a few hours that are convenient for you when just want to play with at our house, or take her to a park or the zoo with our pass that’s fabulous! It can be whenever is convenient for you. Cleaning 🧹 🧼🧺 I put some cleaning slots on the calendar for weeks I know we really can’t keep up. But we could always use more help with whatever cleaning tasks you actually enjoy. Whenever is convenient for you. Costco favorites: (pleasant bonus) 🥫🍇🧻 Doing a costco run for your fam and want to grab us a case of something? The following are some family favorites from costco: naked juice, kombucha, La Croix, Ellenos yogurt, goat cheese, grapes, berries, seaweed, dried mango (unsweetened), organic turkey lunch meat, lesser evil popcorn, la panzanella crackers. Trader Joe favorites: 🍣🧇 smoked salmon, frozen* veggie nests* scallion pancakes* multigrain waffles* lemon bars* pork soup dumplings*, orange chicken*, truffle marcona almonds, authentic greek feta, cucumbers and cucumber tzatziki, uncured salami, uncured bacon, mango nectar (cans/100% juice) Dog walking/training(Dreamy bonus) 🐕 Our dog Navi is 1.5yrs and very sweet but pretty excitable. If you love dogs and are experienced with positive reinforcement training/noticing and managing arousal and want to spend time with our pup it would be lovely. I had hoped to work on her loose-leash walking to help her pull less and reduce dog reactivity but that's on the back-burner indefinitely. Gifts 😳        I have everything I need. But I know being on the other side it can be nice to show love through gifts - especially when you know money is tight and what things that will actually be enjoyed. This list also includes helping tasks that aren’t needed and won’t go on the volunteer calendar:  https://sokindregistry.org/38913

Care Calendar

Jun
July 2025
Aug
  • Tue
    Jul
    1
  • Wed
    Jul
    2
  • Thu
    Jul
    3
  • Fri
    Jul
    4
    no requests
  • Sat
    Jul
    5
  • Sun
    Jul
    6
  • Mon
    Jul
    7
  • Tue
    Jul
    8
  • Wed
    Jul
    9
    no requests
  • Thu
    Jul
    10
  • Fri
    Jul
    11
    no requests
  • Sat
    Jul
    12
    no requests
  • Sun
    Jul
    13
    no requests
  • Mon
    Jul
    14
    no requests
  • Tue
    Jul
    15
    no requests
  • Wed
    Jul
    16
    no requests
  • Thu
    Jul
    17
  • Fri
    Jul
    18
    no requests
  • Sat
    Jul
    19
    no requests
  • Sun
    Jul
    20
    no requests
  • Mon
    Jul
    21
    no requests
  • Tue
    Jul
    22
    no requests
  • Wed
    Jul
    23
    no requests
  • Thu
    Jul
    24
    no requests
  • Fri
    Jul
    25
    no requests
  • Sat
    Jul
    26
    no requests
  • Sun
    Jul
    27
    no requests
  • Mon
    Jul
    28
    no requests
  • Tue
    Jul
    29
    no requests
  • Wed
    Jul
    30
    no requests
  • Thu
    Jul
    31
    no requests

MESSAGES

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For anyone looking for another way to support, I started this GoFundMe to help Amara and her family with the costs of missed shifts and the general life costs during treatment. xoxo https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-ease-amaras-cancer-journey
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Happy Mother’s Day to you, Amara (one day late). Motherhood is challenging, but shouldn’t be this challenging! We are praying for you and all that you are going through. We are praying for restoration of body, health and spirit. God made you strong, since you were a young girl you have been strong. You can fight these earthly battles and endure what you must for the sake of your family. Good golly, you are truly amazing. I hope yesterday was a sweet day of respite for you. You deserve a break!
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First, the hair is giving all kinds of sass and fashion. 🤩 You are working it and looking good my friend. I’m new to this news and needless to say I hit my knees immediately as I’m trusting God to take care of you and your family as you walk through this. I’ll be around soon to help with cleaning, and anything else I can do to help. So thankful the tribe has been mobilized and you’re been surrounded by support. God is good. ❤️
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Amara Monillas 💗💗💗
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(Amara's) Dad and I are so thankful for the kindness of everyone who is following this site and showing up in so many thoughtful ways for Amara and the family!💙🛐💙 Please feel free to call or text me (Wendy Isaac, Amara's mom) if you want to check about something and would like to do it privately, for whatever reason. (360 572 9943) ❤️❤️❤️ Each of you is making a difference in this journey, for Amara, and for her family. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!💛😘🥰
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I thought I left this message already.. sorry if a repeat. Trevor and I are mostly available Tuesdays-Sundays (one or the other of us) and as long as we can figure out a booster/car seat option for Gwen we are totally open to last minute childcare requests.
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