Utah pastor with cancer-stricken son faces eviction as she struggles with medical bills

A pastor and single mom in Utah admitted she has hit rock bottom as she and her family face eviction from their Syracuse home even as one of her sons continues to battle stage 3 cancer.

The Rev. Brandee Jasmine Mimitzraiem, pastor of the Embry Chapel AME Church in Ogden, said her financial obligations are becoming overwhelming as her son's medical bills accumulate. Although she wants stability for her family, the pastor said she is "torn" between taking care of her family and taking care of the church.

"I still have church stuff to deal with and figure out how we're going to pay our bills, and he's still sick," she said.

Her four-year-old son is suffering from a type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, which targets the muscles. His treatment is supposed to run for 42 weeks, and he is now on his 32nd week of chemotherapy. However, his treatment has taken a toll on their finances.

On top of this, an eviction notice was delivered to her home on Monday, May 16, and she and her family now face the possibility of losing their home. They were given three days to vacate the property. The pastor's family is out of state, leaving them with no place to go.

Mimitzraiem said the situation scares her.

She said the church has helped her with her housing needs for the past 18 months, as it's the church's responsibility to ensure the pastor has housing. Unfortunately, the church has been surviving on a tight budget lately, and her housing allowance was cut.

"My fear is being homeless with a kid who has no immune system," she admitted. She considered where the home nurses will visit her and where the medical supplies they need will be delivered, as they have no home address for now.

"It's extremely scary," she said.

The pastor said her faith keeps her going. She has set up a fundraising campaign through Crowdrise for her son, and she is hoping to raise $10,000 for his treatment.

"Your financial support makes his care possible, and it eases the burden this family has to bear. Your gifts literally save his life," the Crowdsite description said.

Mimitzraiem had served for more than a decade as a church staff before she was appointed as pastor in 2014.