Erin Curry of Abbotsford, B.C., wanted to help out her long-time friend Michelle Lesperance of Moose Jaw during a difficult time in Michelle’s life.

She set up a GoFundMe page in June for Michelle to help pay the bills while she cares for her 19-year-old son Jacob, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Curry said on the page she chose a goal of $5,000 because she thought it was a reasonable amount that could be raised. As of July 17, the page surpassed that goal.

Michelle explained how the GoFundMe page came about.

“All of the funding has been exhausted and with the COVID we really couldn’t have a physical fundraiser,” Michelle said.

“My girlfriend suggested it because I hadn’t done one yet. I said I was too exhausted to even think about it and she just went ahead and did it for me.”

She said the people of the community giving to the GoFundMe page have been fantastic and the money has been a relief.

Michelle’s world turned upside down in May of 2015 when she got a call from Jacob’s school saying that something was wrong with him.

He was taken to the hospital and a brain scan showed a mandarin orange-sized tumour on the back of his brain. Jacob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma brain cancer.

Michelle said the fluid was so bad doctors were unsure if Jacob would even make it to Saskatoon for emergency surgery, but he did.

Jacob would undergo chemo and radiation therapy and would go almost cancer-free for two years.

In February of 2018, a follow-up MRI showed the cancer had returned and was spreading. He went back on chemo for 13 days before he turned to his mom and said “I’m dying and I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Jacob has already beat the odds as he was given three to six months to live, two years ago.

Jacob had his first MRI in a couple of years recently and Michelle received the results in June. It showed there are six tumours on this brain, one at the bottom of his spine and he suffers from Hydrocephalus. Michelle is still awaiting word from the cancer centre on any treatment options.

Despite all of this, she said Jacob is still very independent.

“He walks and talks and plays video games and he’s a pretty great kid. He’s pretty upbeat still,” Michelle said.

“He should just be going out with his friends and enjoying life. But, unfortunately, he’s just at home playing video games.”

Although the GoFundMe page as exceeded its goal, it is still taking donations.