Mom of five dying of breast cancer sets up fundraiser to support her family after her death

More than $80,000 has been raised for a Maryland mother of five with terminal cancer after she set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for her funeral as well as her family when she dies. In 2021, 34-year-old Kourtni Smith was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive lobular carcinoma before she received a stage 4 diagnosis of the disease in April, WUSA reported.

A few weeks ago, doctors unfortunately informed her that the cancer had spread to her brain and she was going to die in a few months. Smith was diagnosed with the disease after she detected a lump in her breast. She said she sought medical attention after she was unable to breastfeed her son. 

Smith also said she delayed seeing a doctor because she was afraid. “Evidently, I was chosen for something. And I feel like now I can save somebody’s life,” Smith said. “Here I am only 34 and I’m dying, you know, because I was afraid to go to the doctor.”

Following the diagnosis, Smith in the GoFundMe stated that she was instructed to undergo 8 rounds of chemotherapy and 15 radiation sessions. But after her third round of chemo, Smith said she became more ill as her body could not tolerate the treatment. Smith also said she’s currently in a hospice.

The 34-year-old said she’s sharing her story to encourage other women who may be afraid to see a doctor to do so. The initial goal of the GoFundMe was $50,000, but more than $80,000 has since been raised. 

“As I near the end of the road, my goal is to provide my husband with financial assistance for my funeral expenses as he will be a single father,” Smith wrote.

“I would want them to know that I love them and I love them so much that I would go to any measures, any drastic measures to make sure that they’re OK. Even beyond the grave,” she also told WUSA.