GoFundMe Effort Launched To Aid Fairfield Mother In 2nd Cancer Fight

FAIRFIELD, CT — As Fairfield resident Barbara Peterpaul battles cancer for the second time, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by her four children to help her in the fight.

Barbara recently had a 9-inch tumor removed from her abdomen, and advanced cancer cells were found in her ovaries and uterus, according to Robert, Julia, William and Cassie Peterpaul.

In her 20s, Barbara battled and beat stage-four thyroid cancer, and later lost a son, Thomas, to cancer when he was just 11 years old.

"Our mom is the strongest person we know," the Peterpaul siblings wrote. "She has already kicked cancer's butt before, and we know she will do it again. We also know how incredibly lucky we are to have the support from each and every one of you."

The GoFundMe campaign set a goal of $45,000 to help pay for medical bills and treatments, living expenses while Barbara is unable to work. As of Tuesday, it has raised just under $40,000.

"We see all your donations, messages, etc. and are overwhelmed and energized by your amazing support," the family wrote. "Watching all of your names pop up has brought us so much joy in this tough time. It's also allowed us to come together as a family and get to know each of our friends more closely. We've celebrated every donation to come in and reminisced on the wonderful humans behind each one. The fact that we've nearly reached our first fundraising goal in one weekend is astonishing."

Barbara is currently being treated at the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital, and "she has already charmed the scrubs off everyone" at the medical center, according to the family.

To view the GoFundMe effort on behalf of Barbara Peterpaul, click here.