We want to tell you about our dear friend, Tiana. She is even more beautiful than her name suggests; one of those rare beauties that needs no embellishment to be radiant. Beauty flows through her effortlessly, naturally, and her work as an artist reflects her unique gorgeousness. She is someone who is always graceful with her words and actions, always has the right thing to say and most often it’s something humorous and original that makes you laugh and look at life from a new angle. She smiles often and easily, and it’s no ordinary smile — it’s a light bulb grin that lights up her beautiful face and anything else lucky enough to be near. She is that rare soul that we always want to be in the presence of, because she brings so much joy to whoever is fortunate enough to bask in her warmth. She is a gift to all who know her and her friendship has been a constant source of joy.

Two weeks ago Tiana went into the emergency room because a pain in her back had worsened (she thought she had torn a muscle or maybe slipped a disc a few weeks earlier) and it was there that a CAT scan revealed a large tumor on her pancreas. A few days later a biopsy delivered the dreaded news– Pancreatic cancer. She is only 41 years old, a wife and mother of a precious three year old girl. Words cannot express the shock and sadness that ripped through us over those first few days and continue to bear down on Tiana, her family, and friends. This is a strong, healthy young woman who likes to hike the Marin hills, bike and do yoga — why her, why now? These questions constantly h aunt us all.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst cancers, largely due to the fact that it is usually found when it’s already in the late stages of development. This is the case with Tiana; she is in stage 4 at this time. But yet, she is young and otherwise healthy and her doctors are telling her she is someone who might be successful in her fight against this disease — which is so hopeful!

Tiana, her husband Leo, her family and friends all want to see her win this battle, if only to add some precious time to her life so that she can be here for her little girl, Olive, a while longer. Treatments involving chemotherapy and traditional medicine are being started, but they are also proceeding with less conventional treatments that fall outside the scope of insurance coverage, such as treatments that involve Chinese medicine and nutrition, and take a more holistic approach. Every viable option must be explored in order to do battle with this cancer and there is no time to waste. But there is a need for money. These treatments will be extremely expensive and most aren’t covered under their insurance. This family needs our support as a community to pursue these treatments and to keep Tiana here with us. If she could just have a few more years on this earth so that her little girl Olive can know her mother then that would be a great blessing. But it can’t happen without that annoying reality — money. Please contribute all that you can to helping Tiana fight this battle. Let’s all pull together in the name of love and family and give generously.