Join Mariah’s Journey to Healing with Stage 4 Breast Cancer

For the past few weeks, I’ve carried the weight of some very heavy news, while quietly trying to accept my new reality. I haven’t had the courage or found the words to share with anyone outside of my immediate family, so I deeply apologize to the close friends of mine who are finding out this way. Often times it’s easier for me to update everyone on a mass message basis. Truthfully, I still don’t feel ready to share, but I am in need of some serious prayers, encouragement, and financial support in order to begin treatments ASAP in every attempt to support my immune system and extend my life through conventional treatments.

Many of you know that in January of 2022, I was originally diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. I underwent a bilateral mastectomy (had both breasts amputated), 5 months of aggressive chemotherapy, 16 rounds of high-dose radiation, implants + breast reconstruction and one year of hormone therapy until side effects forced me to stop. For 3 years I was “cancer free” through clear scans and labs. I fought hard, healed harder, and have spent the past couple years reclaiming my life—I fell in love with my soulmate Cody John, regained the strength and independence to be a single mom, and learned how to love myself again in a completely new body.

Recently, something didn’t feel right. I was experiencing some ongoing back pain after lifting heavy at the gym, so I advocated for a full body PET scan. I am blessed to have a care team who listens to my requests and acts urgently. Unfortunately, to my surprise it revealed a few metastatic cancer lesions on my spine (T9, T10 and L5) and a suspicious internal mammary lymph node in my chest.

My doctors urgently requested a biopsy on the suspicious lymph node, which confirmed that the original breast cancer has in fact returned and spread outside the primary site. Because it has spread beyond the original tumor site, my diagnosis is now classified as Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and is deemed incurable in a conventional sense.

There’s no sugarcoating it—it’s a life-altering diagnosis. One that doesn’t come with a clear finish line. But if you know me, you know I’m not one to sit back and accept a story that hasn’t been fully written yet. I am choosing to fight with everything I have—for my daughter, my lover, my family, my friends, for my future, and for every dream I still plan to live out.

This diagnosis has shattered me in ways I can’t yet describe. It still doesn’t feel real. I want so badly to deal with the normal struggles of a 30 year old — like moving into a new home and stressing over paint colors, or starting a new job, or planning a dream wedding, or taking care of several toddlers running around on no sleep. I see all of those things as absolute blessings and I crumble when I see others complain on the internet about how stressed they are managing some of those same tasks. Those are the things I would give anything for instead of facing a terminal diagnosis but I know that every new day I wake up to see is a gift. They say, “healthy people wear a crown only the sick can see” and it is so true. I’ve cried, screamed, prayed, begged for healing, and surrendered more times than I can count. I have wrestled with God and walked through some of the darkest days of my life recently. It feels very different than my early stage diagnosis in 2022 that was curable. It was my worst nightmare that the cancer would return, and it did. Now there are so many unknowns. Every thought you can imagine facing— I’ve already thought about it and begged God for more time and mercy. Yet somehow I feel at peace. Peace from knowing we have a plan moving forward and that tomorrow truly isn’t promised for any of us.

But here I am — still believing in complete healing and knowing that our bodies were designed to HEAL.

I’ve always known that healing isn’t just about medicine—it’s about listening to your body, doing the DEEP rooted work, and showing up for yourself spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. I am determined to not just survive with this condition long-term, but to THRIVE.

This diagnosis means I’ll be on some form of cancer treatment for the rest of my life. It also means facing the heartbreak of not having any more children with my sweet Cody, which has been one of the hardest parts to accept. I recently had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed on May 6th and I am currently healing from that surgery and navigating the side effects of being put into surgical menopause instantly when the process naturally happens over several years. The severe drenching hot flashes, mood swings all over the place, insomnia — you name it. Accepting the fact that I am a woman without breasts or ovaries has been indescribably hard. Yet, I am confident that it was the best decision for me because I have the genetic mutation BRCA2+ and it was recommended that I have my ovaries/tubes removed by the time I was 40 regardless of this re-diagnosis. That doesn’t take away from the fact that it was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Saying goodbye to the most sacred parts of myself as a woman is beyond what words can describe. It has crushed both Cody and I to accept that I won’t be able to have any of his children, and Lord knows I would have made 10 babies with this man. That said, I am focusing on how blessed I am to have been able to give birth to my dream girl, Oakley Kaye. She is my one and only forever. I know there are so many women on this cancer journey who will never get to be a mother, so I am choosing to focus on gratitude that God allowed me to become a mother before this chapter of my life despite the absolute heartbreak.

As a mom & business owner, this surgery/diagnosis means stepping back from my biggest income source to prioritize healing & every precious moment with my people. I’ve worked so hard to build my photography business over the last 8 years and to live out my dreams as an entrepreneur. I feel crushed as to what this means for my career goals.

This journey is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. And it’s going to cost an overwhelming amount to extend my life here—financially, emotionally, and physically. The conventional treatments are already beginning to take a toll, and the integrative therapies I’m pursuing (which aren’t covered by insurance) are my best hope at preserving my strength, quality of life, and my immune system while I am on conventional meds long-term including oral chemo and targeted hormone suppressants as my first line of therapy, since the cancer is feeding on 90% estrogen. Hence why it was best to remove my ovaries.

That’s why I’ve created this GoFundMe—to rally our people and ask for your support in 3 powerful ways:

1. Financial contributions to help me afford life-extending integrative treatments to boost my immune system through hormone changes and oral chemo.

2. Prayers and positive energy for strength and healing + a long life thriving with this condition!!!

3. Sharing this page far and wide to extend this call for support beyond my own circle.

As a single mama, business owner, and believer in miracles, I’m doing everything in my power to stay hopeful, faithful, and proactive—but I can’t do it alone.

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Here’s where your support will go:

• $9,000 – Newly FDA approved Personalized Cancer Vaccine. Created from stem cells collected during my recent biopsy to help train my immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells long-term. A cutting edge new treatment option.

• $12,000 – SOT (Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy) A highly targeted, non-toxic treatment designed to block cancer cell replication using precision science.

• $1,050/week – Immune-boosting IV infusions (1–2x weekly)

High-dose intravenous Vitamin C, Vitamin K3, and other nutrients to support my immune system and to target/kill cancer cells while I am also on oral chemo which will deplete my natural immune system.

• $159/month – Infrared Sauna (3–4x/week)

Supports detoxification, hormone balance, lymphatic flow, and pain relief from bone metastases. I’m looking to get a monthly membership or purchase an at home infrared sauna to help support my detox pathways as recommended by my integrative oncologist as a crucial part of my detox protocol.

• $850 – PEMF + Red Light Mat for Home Use. A therapy mat that promotes circulation and bone healing while reducing pain from my spine mets and inflammation.

• $500 – Rebounding Equipment for At-Home Lymphatic Health. A low-impact, cancer-safe way to encourage lymphatic drainage and oxygen flow. Needs to be high quality bungee trampoline so that it doesn’t cause strain on my spine metastatic lesions. I wish a cheap kids trampoline would cut it but those can cause more damage to joints and compromised bones.

• $200-400/month – Colon Hydrotherapy

Gentle internal detox support to help reduce toxin load from treatments and keep my gut and liver clear.

• Massage Therapy & Holistic Care

To help manage sudden, surgically-induced menopause symptoms

• Support for my family after my hysterectomy on May 6 (I am unable to lift more than 8–10 lbs for 6–8 weeks and have had to fully step back from work.) As a self-employed entrepreneur, I do not get any paid time off—every surgery and sickness causes a direct impact to my income as an artist. Every ounce of support for this healing window means the world.

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I’ve spent the last three years diving deep into researching both Western and holistic healing practices since my initial diagnosis. I’m grateful to now be working with one of the leading integrative oncologists in the world, located right here in Mankato, Minnesota. People travel from around the nation to see my integrative oncologist who specializes in life extension for stage 4 patients. Together, we are building a personalized treatment plan that combines the best of both worlds—with the goal of achieving No Evidence of Disease and staying there for as long as possible—for life!

I know there are so many people navigating hardship right now. And I never imagined being in a position where I’d need to ask for this kind of help. But this is me, humbled and hopeful, asking for it anyway—because my life, my daughter’s future, and the people I love fiercely are worth fighting for.

If you feel called to help—through donations, sharing this page, or simply praying for us—I will never forget it. Every single act of love counts.

As of right now, I have absolutely no idea how I will manage to come up with the funds to begin these integrative treatments and support my daughter through this diagnosis but I am praying hard and believing God will make a way for me to cover these astronomical treatment costs that will extend my life.

God bless you all, and please know that any amount helps — Here’s to HEALING and doing the deep work to beat the odds!

If you would like to donate directly so that I can bypass the Go Fund Me transfer fee’s — my Venmo is @MariahFailor

More updates to come

Love Always,

Mariah

#stage4 #breastcancer #stage4breastcancer