Standing with Aleasha How to Help

Standing with Aleasha

One place for updates, ways to help, upcoming events, and the incredible community standing beside her through treatment.

How to help Latest update Events Her story
Aleasha
Current treatment Chemotherapy with immunotherapy — first stretch of five months
Biggest need right now Gift cards she'll actually use — gas, Walmart, or a plain Visa. Those were her own answer when we asked. One thing to skip: anything with caffeine or alcohol in it. See how to help →
Latest update Aug 26 Round 3️⃣

Her story

Before anything else, she is Aleasha

She is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a coworker. A vet tech, which is the kind of job you only take if you actually love animals and don't mind hard days.

The first half of 2026 was, by her own account, a good one. She got to celebrate her birthday with her mama. She rented a cabin in the mountains. She made it to the beach as a belated birthday gift to herself. She went to her first small-scale rodeo, saw the Savannah Bananas, and drove to Nashville with one of her besties to see Chase Rice and had a blast.

Then, in July, she found a lump. Six months after an annual exam where everything felt normal.

“Now this second half of my year is going to look a lot different. I got diagnosed with TNBC — triple negative breast cancer. It’s fast growing and aggressive. My team and I are moving as fast as we can to get ahead of it. So far it hasn’t spread yet and that’s truly a saving grace to know.” Aleasha, August 2026

She is clear-eyed about what's coming. She called it a long and brutal road, physically, mentally, and emotionally — and then, in the same breath, listed the people around her and said she doesn't think she could get through it without them.

“My sunrises and sunsets look different now, and I’m blessed to be able to see them. They’re much more special and beautiful.” Aleasha

This page exists so that the people who love her don't have to piece the story together from comment threads, and so that when you want to help, you know exactly what would actually help. That's it. That's the whole idea.

The rest of her

Coffee With Aleasha

We asked her 129 questions and she answered every one — favourite word, worst chore, the cats, what she actually wants people to send. Cancer is part of her story. It isn't the title of it.

Sit down with her

The road

Where she is in the journey

This timeline grows as she does. Dates for anything ahead are estimates and will shift — treatment plans always do.

  1. January 2026

    A normal annual exam

    Aleasha had her annual exam. Everything looked and felt normal.

  2. Summer 2026

    She found it herself

    Six months after that clear exam, Aleasha felt something that hadn't been there before. She pushed to get it looked at. In her own words: you need to advocate for yourself.

  3. Summer 2026

    Diagnosis

    Grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma — triple-negative, stage 2. Around 4.7 cm, which is what sets the stage. It's fast-growing and aggressive, and it has not spread to the lymph nodes — which changes everything about the road ahead.

  4. Summer 2026

    The plan comes together

    Her team mapped the year: five months of chemotherapy with immunotherapy, four to six weeks to let her body rebuild, then surgery — and after that, radiation or more chemotherapy depending on which surgery she chooses. Long, but deliberate — and moving fast on purpose.

  5. Five months, starting summer 2026

    Chemotherapy and immunotherapy

    Chemotherapy, with immunotherapy alongside it, is the main tool against triple-negative breast cancer. This is the longest and hardest stretch of the year, and where day-to-day help matters most.

  6. Four to six weeks, after chemo

    Time to rebuild

    A planned break between chemotherapy and surgery — time to let her body recover and get her white cell count back up before an operation.

  7. Expected early 2027

    Surgery

    Aleasha's decision to make, and she hasn't made it yet — most likely a lumpectomy. What comes after depends on which way she goes.

  8. Following surgery

    After surgery

    Radiation if she has a lumpectomy, or more chemotherapy if she has a mastectomy. Which one depends on the surgery, and that decision is still hers to make.

  9. Ahead

    Recovery, and everything after

    The part we're all working toward. This page will still be here for it.

Treatment updates

How she's doing

Newest first. If it's been quiet here for a while, that's usually good news — it means a normal week.

August 26, 2026 Treatment day

Round 3️⃣

Was a little anxious through it. My pet also wouldn’t give blood but they’re not quite design for that, it’s just a nice perk of having one. But actually after 30 mins of trying it finally got all the blood we needed for my pre labs. Got hit with my Ativan , chilled me out for the addition of my keytruda… arrived at 9 finally came home at 2. Longer day than planned but once home took a nap and then just hung out and took it easy. Feeling a little week and tired but fine otherwise 🙃

How she's feeling

Had round 3️⃣ ➕keytruda added in for the first time. This is an immune boost injection.

What's next

Keep on keepin on with every Wednesday chemo for 3 mos then every 3 weeks to finish out the total of 5 mos.

August 23, 2026 Good day

Not too bad

A little achy and tired but over all good!

How she's feeling

Not a whole lot going on just resting and taking it easy. Was able to get back to work this past week! Was really nice being able to get back in routine. Had my second treatment and went well.

What's next

Next treatment we add in keytruda to boost my immune system.

August 12, 2026 Treatment day

New level of anxiety reached

I don’t want to do this. I didn’t like the iv Benadryl, so they gave me a slight anti anxiety meds iv. And that helped too. Switching it up next week and see if that’s better. I think I got about 5-6 injections through my port plus all the flushes. It’s scary to think your heart is ok to handle this! All in all, it went ok. Went fast. I’m looking forward to just being done with all this and getting back to my new normal past this temp normal.

How she's feeling

Day one of chemo. Pre labs, pre meds, pre vitals- bp a little low than my normal but my nurse did multiple rechecks. Iv fluids for a bit then chemo then flushed my port and out!

What's next

Sit and wait for any side effects over the next week

August 8, 2026 Milestone

Chemotherapy Port Install

Aleasha had her chemotherapy port installed a few days ago. The procedure went well!

How she's feeling

Overwhelmed but moving forward. She feels okay. Prepped for the next step.

What's next

Chemo starts Wednesday August 12th. She will do one session a week for the next 12 weeks.

Posted by Nichol

Start here

How you can help

Not every act of kindness comes with a price tag. Some people bring dinner. Some send coffee. Some cover a prescription. Some leave a note that gets read on a bad afternoon. Every one of these counts.

Give financially Helps with treatment costs, travel to appointments, and the wages she loses on treatment weeks. Venmo or PayPal → Give practically Meals, rides, errands, visits. Claim a specific day so nothing lands twice and nothing gets missed. Open the care calendar → Send a little sunshine Comfort things, coffee, a favorite snack, something for the cats. Small gestures land harder than people expect. See her favorites → Leave her a note No reply needed, and that's rather the point. A memory, a photo, a line that made you think of her. These get read on the bad days. Write something → Join a fundraiser Community events happening through treatment. Come, bring someone, or take a shift. What's coming up →

Financial support

If you'd like to give

There is no pressure here, and no guilt. Plenty of people help in ways that have nothing to do with money, and that counts just as much.

However is easiest for you
Venmo

@sw_aleasha

Open Venmo
PayPal

paypal.me/swaleasha

Open PayPal

Both go to the same place. Use whichever you already have on your phone — there's no difference at this end.

Gifts go toward treatment costs, travel to and from appointments, wages lost on treatment weeks, and keeping the household steady.

Where the money goes

Money given here goes to Aleasha — treatment costs, travel to and from appointments, the wages she loses on treatment weeks, and keeping the household running. If you ever want to know where something went, just ask. You'll get a straight answer.

🌞 No pressure, ever

Send a little sunshine

A few small things can make a hard day easier. A favorite snack, a cozy blanket, coffee, something the cats will immediately sit on. One list, kept current — these are things she's actually said she'd use.

Amazon favorites Comfort things, everyday bits, and cat supplies Coffee & gift cards Over 200 options through Give InKind Share a photo Every one is read before it goes up

Nothing here is expected. It's here so that when someone asks "what can I actually send?", there's a real answer instead of a guess.

Fundraisers

What the community is putting together

Every fundraiser gets its own card here. New ones get added as people dream them up.

Image to come
Live Aug 20

Raffle Basket for Aleasha's Journey

A self-care basket put together by her coworkers. $3 for one entry, $5 for two. Drawing September 10.

Organized by Her coworkers at Southwind Animal Hospital

Enter with Venmo
Completed Aug 14 Fri & Sat, Aug 14–15 · 8am–2pm · 1016 Laurie St, Maryville TN 37803

Multi-Family Yard Sale

Two days, 8am–2pm both days. Kids', women's and men's clothing, toys, home decor, and a lot more. Every dollar goes straight to Aleasha.

Organized by Loving Coworkers

Donate items or ask a question
Upcoming Online

Vora Noire Gives Back

Every archive box gives back. Every membership gives back. Both together and we give even more.

Organized by Vora Noire

Shop & give back
Upcoming Launching this October

The Pink Rebellion Collection

A limited edition box curated with love, strength, and a whole lot of heart. Launching this October.

Organized by Vora Noire

Join the waitlist

Calendar

Upcoming events

No events on the calendar just yet. Check back soon.

Encouragement

Leave her a note

Messages are read before they're posted. She doesn't have to reply to any of them — that's rather the point.

Write a message

“My heart goes out to you. I will keep you in my prayers daily until you are free of this. Sending love and lots of hugs.❤️❤️❤️”

Carole McLean · Friend of family

“I am So sorry to hear about your diagnosis it hits home 😩 you got this! I know we may not have been close growing up in school but From what I know your tough as shit! Screw this cancer and beat it girl!! Thinking of you! ”

Steffanie · North Carolina · Friend

“I love you 💕😘 ”

Nichol · Lenoir City · Seeeessster

“You’re such a badass Al! You got this! ”

Lennie Swindeman · Co-worker

“You are a light to so many people, we are all rooting you on from the sidelines. Love you so much. 🤍☀️”

Lexie Mason · Maryville, Tennessee · Friend, Coworker

Questions

Things people ask

Can I visit?

Often yes — but please ask first rather than dropping by. Chemotherapy suppresses the immune system, so timing matters and some weeks are harder than others. One firm rule: if you are sick, have been around someone sick, or are getting over anything at all, stay home and send a message instead. It is not rude. It is the single most protective thing you can do for her.

Can I bring meals?

Yes, and it helps more than almost anything. Check the Ways to Help section first — it lists what's actually needed right now so five people don't bring lasagna on the same Tuesday. Chemo changes how food tastes and what sits well, so preferences may shift week to week.

Can businesses sponsor or donate?

Yes. Businesses have donated raffle items, gift cards, services, and event space. Reach out using the contact email in the footer and we'll find a fit. Every business that helps gets a place in the Community Spotlight.

How often is this page updated?

As often as there's something real to say — usually around treatment days and any time the plan changes. If it's been quiet for a while, that's usually a good sign, not a bad one. No news generally means a normal week.

Should I ask her how she's doing?

Yes — but know that answering the same question thirty times a day is its own kind of exhausting. That's part of why this page exists. Check here first, then reach out with something specific: a memory, a photo, an offer to handle one concrete thing. Messages that don't need a reply are a gift.

What is triple-negative breast cancer?

It's breast cancer that tests negative for all three of the things doctors usually target: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and the HER2 protein. Because those targets aren't there, hormone therapy and HER2 drugs don't work — which is why her plan leans so heavily on chemotherapy. There's a fuller explanation in the Understanding Her Diagnosis section.

Understanding her diagnosis

What triple-negative breast cancer is

Plain language, no jargon. Knowing roughly what she's dealing with makes it a lot easier to know how to show up.

What “triple-negative” means

Most breast cancers are fed by one of three things: estrogen, progesterone, or a protein called HER2. Doctors test for all three, because each one is a target a drug can aim at. Aleasha’s cancer tested negative for all three — that’s the “triple” in triple-negative. It isn’t a measure of severity. It’s a description of what the cancer is missing.

Why that changes the treatment

No estrogen receptor means hormone therapy won’t work. No HER2 means HER2-targeted drugs won’t either. That removes two of the usual tools and leaves chemotherapy doing the heavy lifting — which is why her plan is chemo-heavy and runs so long. TNBC accounts for roughly 10–15% of breast cancers.

Why chemo comes before surgery

Giving chemotherapy first is standard for triple-negative breast cancer. It shrinks the tumor before the operation, and it lets the care team watch how the cancer responds to the drugs in real time — information they can’t get any other way.

What she may be dealing with

  • Fatigue — the deep kind that sleep doesn’t fix
  • Nausea and appetite changes; food can taste wrong
  • Hair loss
  • A weakened immune system, which is why visits get scheduled
  • Neuropathy — tingling or numbness in hands and feet
  • Brain fog, and the emotional weight underneath all of it

What “grade 3, stage 2” means

These two numbers get mixed up constantly, and they measure different things. Stage is about size and spread. Aleasha’s is stage 2 because the tumour is around 4.7 cm — not because it has gone anywhere. It has not moved to the lymph nodes, and she called that knowledge a saving grace. Grade is about how the cells look under a microscope: grade 3 means they’re dividing fast and don’t resemble normal tissue. Fast-growing sounds worse, and in one specific way it’s the opposite — chemotherapy targets cells that divide quickly, so aggressive cancers often respond to it well. That’s the logic behind giving chemo first.

How to be useful

You don’t need the right words. Specific beats sympathetic every time: offer a ride on a named day, drop a meal, take something off her plate without asking her to manage it. And if you’re sick, stay home — that’s not distance, that’s protection.

This section is general education written for friends and family, not medical advice, and it is not a description of Aleasha's specific treatment plan. Every case is different. For anything real, talk to a doctor — the American Cancer Society helpline is 1-800-227-2345, 24 hours a day.

Resources

Helpful places to start

For anyone who wants to understand more, or who is walking a similar road themselves.

American Cancer Society Treatment info, a 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345, and local support programs. Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Research and support focused specifically on TNBC. National Breast Cancer Foundation Patient navigation, education, and free support resources. CancerCare Free professional counseling, support groups, and financial assistance. Family Reach Direct financial help with the everyday costs cancer creates. Cancer Support Community Mental health support for patients and the people around them. Caregiver Action Network For the family and friends doing the caring. ACS Road To Recovery Free rides to and from treatment where volunteer drivers are available.

Community spotlight

The people showing up

A running record of everyone who has put their shoulder into this.

S

Southwind Animal Hospital

Her coworkers assembled and are running the raffle basket for her — collecting donations, gathering the items, and handling every entry themselves.

B

Burnt Oak Massage & Wellness

Donated a 60-minute massage and a 60-minute Reiki session as the centerpiece of the raffle basket — the single biggest item in it.