Kourtni Smith, a 34-year-old mother of five from St. Mary’s County, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 invasive lobular carcinoma. Unfortunately, after a recent doctor visit, Smith was given some devastating news. Her cancer had spread to her brain, and she now only has a few months left to live. Despite the grim prognosis, Smith is determined to focus on making as many memories as she can with her family in the time she has left.
In reflecting on her experience, Smith hopes to serve as a warning to others who may be too scared to seek medical help. She revealed that she initially delayed seeking a medical opinion when she noticed a lump on her breast. Now, she wants to save someone else’s life by urging others not to make the same mistake she did.
Her battle with cancer began in 2021 when she was diagnosed with Stage 3, which could have had a different outcome if detected early. However, fear kept her away from getting checked out. Those fears finally prompted her to visit a doctor and led to her Stage 4 diagnosis. Despite treatment efforts, she is now making the most of her time in hospice, focusing on comfort and moments with her husband, Andre, and their five children, aged 16, 14, 12, 9, and 2.
Smith is also working on a children’s book to leave a legacy for her kids and hopes she can make it to December so she can spend one last Christmas with them. To help with funeral expenses, she started a GoFundMe page, and so far, it has raised over $70,000.
As she writes in her plea for financial assistance, “My goal is to provide my husband with financial assistance for my funeral expenses as he will be a single father. I kindly invite you to show your love and support.” We invite you to make a donation and to share in her fight against this devastating disease.
