Help Stone Cloud Studio Fight Cancer

In July 2018, I had surgery and was subsequently diagnosed with uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS). In January 2020, my lung collapsed. After a second surgery, I was diagnosed with metastatic uLMS. Fifteen percent of people with metastatic uLMS make it to five years from the initial diagnosis. There is no cure right now. My hope is to be a part of the 15% and stay healthy long enough to see a cure, so I can thrive beyond 2023.

Todd and I (co-owners of Stone Cloud Studio), along with my sister MaryAnne Nguyen, are auctioning off some of our artwork to raise funds to help pay for whatever comes next on this journey. Jess Self, a good friend and former student, donated a two-day weekend stay at her airbnb in Black Mountain to help our cause.

If you're not in a position to contribute financially, no problem. Spreading the word of our fundraising efforts to art lovers in your circles, or sending people to our website (www.stonecloudstudio.com) who might be interested in commissioning a mural, painting, or sculpture would help us to secure our future.

Making art is a proactive and healthy distraction from all the what-ifs we are facing. Help us continue to do what we love, which is to dream big together.

Much love & gratitude,
Lara Nguyen

Since my metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) cancer diagnosis in mid-January, so many of you have asked how you can help. Despite the overwhelming upheaval to our lives, we are doing okay. Fifteen percent of people with metastatic uLMS make it to five years from the initial diagnosis, which for me was July 2018. There is no cure, but we are looking into therapies, treatments, and trials. My goal is to be a part of that 15% and thrive beyond 2023.

I know this disease is incurable and terminal. I have no delusions, but I also hang on to hope. Anger, FOMO (fear of missing out) on the lives of everyone I love, and sadness haunt me. But I won't be robbed of the time I have left, whatever that may be. Having this possible educated guess at an expiration date only makes me want to love harder, spread joy further, and make more art. Atticus & Moon were nine and seven when we got the initial diagnosis in July 2018. I decided then that I was going to give them all I’ve got till I’m gone, and we've had a wonderful year and a half despite the frequent scans and my latest surgery.

All the correspondence I've had with family and friends in the last month has helped clarify my personal mission, shaping how we as a family want to move through this traumatic life event. If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. Now comes the how-you-can-continue-to-support-us part….

Todd and I (co-owners of Stone Cloud Studio) are auctioning off our artwork to raise funds. Some pieces date back to the late 90s. My sister MaryAnne Nguyen has also donated paintings for our cause. The funds we raise will help with the cost of future treatments near and far, travel to potential trials, and accommodations so that we can be together as a family throughout this process. Your purchase and/or donation will help make our lives less stressful financially, allowing us to have more quality time together no matter the quantity. If you're not in a position to contribute financially, no problem. Sending us art commission opportunities and/or spreading the word of our fundraising efforts in your communities would be a huge gift to us.

The continued outpouring of love and support has shocked me to the core. I count myself lucky to be surrounded by all of you. We are working hard as a family to figure out our new normal as I heal and fortify this body for my next fight.

With all our love & gratitude,
Lara, Todd, Atticus, & Moon