Hi, my name is Aisha Brooks, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to ask for support for the most important person in my life, my mom, Anna Owens. She is not only my mother, but my best friend, my rock, and my hero. I’m her only child, and right now, she is facing the fight of her life against stage four metastatic heart cancer. This has been an unimaginable journey for both of us, and we need your help more than ever.
Despite everything she’s been through, my mom has continued to push forward with incredible strength. In fact, she just recently earned a promotion at work to technician, a role she was so proud to step into. She’s always worked hard, always put others first, and now, I want to do everything I can to help her focus on healing, not worrying about how she’ll afford to keep going.
In 2023, our lives changed forever when my mom was diagnosed with stage two neuroendocrine lung cancer. We turned to Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee, where we found a doctor that specialized in neuroendocrine cancer. There she bravely underwent a lobectomy surgery to remove the tumor. Her surgeon told us the surgery went well, but also mentioned something that now haunts us. The tumor had been laying on her heart.
After recovering from surgery, my mom began PET scans every six months to ensure the cancer hadn’t returned. Each scan appeared clear. Until recently.
In May 2025, her latest PET scan revealed something shocking. It showed her heart was glowing, and even more confusing, it was described as “stable from December.” But her December 2024 scan had shown her heart glowing but nothing abnormal was reported. We were scared and confused. Come to find out, her PET scan from May 2024 was also showing her heart glowing and it still wasn’t reported. We quickly contacted her team at Vanderbilt, and they ordered a cardiac MRI.
Not even one hour after the scan, her cardiac doctor called. The news was worse than we could have ever imagined.
My mom has two tumors in her left ventricle, each about 1 inch in diameter. She has been diagnosed with stage four metastatic carcinoid heart cancer and carcinoid heart disease. A rare and devastating diagnosis. We are heartbroken.
On June 9th, 2025, we met with her cardiac oncologist at Vanderbilt. We hoped for a treatment plan, but instead were given more devastating news: the cancer is too advanced, and located in too dangerous an area for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
The only option is a monthly injection and infusions. Not to shrink the tumors, but to hopefully stop the cancer from growing and spreading. These injections cost $2,000–$3,000 each. If this therapy works, she will need these injections for the rest of her life.
This fundraiser is being created to help ease the enormous financial burden my mom now faces. Donations will go toward:
• Monthly cancer injections
• Travel costs for ongoing care at Vanderbilt Hospital (an almost 5-hour drive each way)
• Future scans and specialist visits
• Her current outstanding medical bills
I am asking, from the bottom of my heart, for any help you can give. No amount is too small, truly. And if you’re not in a place to donate, please consider sharing this page with your friends and loved ones.
My family and I want nothing more than to give my mom the peace of mind to focus on her health and healing, not her bills.
Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.
With all our gratitude,
Aisha Brooks and Anna Owens
