October of 2022, just 10 days after giving birth to her twin boys my best friend Amanda was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.  Immediately I was shattered.  Even before this diagnosis Amanda to me has always been the epitome of Wonder Woman.  It seemed inconceivable that this could be the reality for my young, healthy, vibrant, super hero.  But it is, and she shares this nightmare with thousands of other young healthy people living with ALK + lung cancer.  That’s the killer literally of this type of lung cancer, a genetic mutation that robs the lives of young healthy adults.  The only silver lining of this tragedy is that research is actually extending and saving lives for people with ALK+.  Amanda is only alive today because of medication that passed clinical trials 9 years ago.  If not for it she wouldn’t be with us today.  I can’t bare the thought of losing my friend, of her young family growing up without her, of this world missing her magic.  Her life extends as long as the medication keeps working, when that is, research doesn’t know.  It could be 7 years, it could be tomorrow Gd forbid, and then her next best chance is to try the next medication that research provides.  Your donations are going to this research.  It is active, it is urgent, it is necessary.  Please donate to give Amanda and so many other’s a fighting chance to stay alive.