"My best friend Carolyn." That’s how most people know Carolyn Smith Searles. She is everyone's favorite person, and she’s known for emptying her own cup to fill up others’- always going above and beyond for the people she loves.

She brightens every room by simply being there. She is kind, loving, committed, thoughtful, and compassionate—a devoted mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt, and friend.

The Unexpected Journey

Carolyn carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing breast, ovarian, and other cancer. As a preventive measure, she opted for a double mastectomy in November 2021.

Yet, despite these efforts, Carolyn has been diagnosed with triple negative stage 2B breast cancer at the age of 36. Triple negative breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer for those who carry BRCA1.

This news is especially devastating as Carolyn, her husband Andrew, and their two year old daughter, Corinne (Rinny) are expanding their family. Carolyn is 16 weeks pregnant with a baby boy.

Treatment Plan

Carolyn begins an extremely aggressive chemotherapy treatment plan on October 10.

As soon as it is safe, she will deliver her baby boy and immediately begin the second phase of treatment which includes intense chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and multiple scans.

How to Help

We are reaching out to her vast community to help ease the immense weight that comes with a cancer diagnosis. Here is what we need from you:

* Prayers & Positive Energy: For Carolyn, her doctors, her husband Andrew, their daughter Rinny, and their baby boy on the way. Text messages, phone calls, cards, and reminders of strength and hope go a long way.

* Practical Support: With meals, rides to appointments, babysitting for Rinny, and general caretaking. You can sign up to contribute a meal to the Searles Family meal train here: https://mealtrain.com/gzo01m

* Financial Help: To ease the significant financial burden associated with high deductibles, co-pays, and lost income. This will allow them to focus on healing and time together as a family.

There is no one more deserving of an overwhelming outpouring of love and generosity than Carolyn.

Let’s lift her up and surround her with a FORCE of positive energy, love, and generosity to remind her how truly adored and supported she is.