Donate to Surrounding Poppins with Love – Fight Against Kidney Cancer!, organized by Kerryann Alcantara

Product Description

Our mom, Christine Branker – lovingly called “Poppins” by her nine grandchildren- has always been the heart of our family. She’s the grandmother who makes birthdays, holidays, and ordinary days feel special. She has been at every birth, every birthday, and every milestone, and her love is stitched into the everyday fabric of our lives. On August 7, 2025, during an ER visit, we heard the devastating words: stage 4 kidney cancer. Just two days ago, doctors confirmed through a biopsy that it is non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and yesterday she began her first round of immunotherapy treatments. Everything has moved so quickly, and while it has been overwhelming, we are grateful she was able to begin treatment right away. We are so blessed that her medical care is covered in Canada, but the greatest challenge we face now is travel and caregiving costs. Even as she steps into treatment, Mom’s love and presence are felt everywhere. She has always been our encourager, our comfort, and our safe place to land. In this season, as I’ve walked through my own difficult transition, she has once again opened her home and her heart to me and my children. That’s who she is—the one who makes room, makes things better, and makes everyone feel at home. Her children and grandchildren live across New York, South Carolina, and California, and being with her matters most. This isn’t just about visiting—it’s about being her full support system through treatments, recovery days, and the everyday moments she treasures. Her nine grandchildren know her so deeply because she has poured herself into knowing each of them. She has gardened and cooked with some, spent hours reading with others, baked birthday cakes from scratch, hand-sewn Halloween costumes, remembered their favorite snacks and little treasures, and always found thoughtful ways to make each child feel uniquely loved. She has a gift for making every grandchild feel like her favorite—because in her heart, they truly are. Mom is humble, and one of the things I admire most about her is the way she lives in the present. She finds joy in the ordinary and makes everyday moments feel special. Now, we want to give that back to her: time with her loved ones, and days filled with as much beauty, love, and laughter as possible. We often think of the image of a bundle of sticks: one stick alone can break easily, but together, they are strong. That’s what family, community, and faith mean to us right now. Every prayer, every kind word, every donation adds another stick to the bundle, giving Mom strength to keep going. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18 We’ll keep this page updated as Mom continues her treatments. Thank you for holding us in your hearts and for helping us give her the most precious gift of all: more time, more love, and more memories with her children and grandchildren. Your support means she can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time surrounded by the people she loves most—making every day of this journey as beautiful as she has always made ours. With love and gratitude, Kerryann & Family

Donate to Surrounding Poppins with Love - Fight Against Kidney Cancer!, organized by Kerryann Alcantara

Donate to Surrounding Poppins with Love - Fight Against Kidney Cancer!, organized by Kerryann Alcantara

Price Valid Until: 1970-01-01