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Mary's journey with Lung Cancer

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To Family, Friends and GOD;

As some of you may know, and some of you may be finding out through this request to help, which I am dearly sorry for you to hear it this way, but it was hard enough to tell family members.  I have a journey ahead of me, and I should actually say WE, this journey will also be my husband's, "Jack".

On May 7, 2015 I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, (Adenocarcinoma).

My journey will be to fight and fight hard with all my might to BEAT this!!!

I am extremely uneasy about setting this up to ask for financial help, but I have to put my pride aside and move forward.   I never, never would have ever thought, I would be saying, I have Cancer!  The biggest thing for me, is not the fight, I am a fighter, as most of you well know, it is the financial burden that will add to the stress, and Cancer thrives on stress.

I don't want Jack or myself to have to worry about not paying the day to day expenses or buying the things I will need to maintain a good nutritional diet, not to mention the medical bills that will not be covered under my health insurance (thank goodness, I have it) that will soon be coming our way.  Then the New Year the deductible starts all over again, ugh…..

As some of you know the history behind Jack’s health that started in later part of 2000, which continues to this day (wow, it’s been 15 years), really took a toll on us financially, BUT I was healthy, I could work to maintain what we needed. Please know what I am about to say Jack has never heard out loud from me.

I love my husband dearly, with all my heart, and when we got married our vow did say, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, and has remained strong all throughout everything he went through to get to today, but… the stress of being a caregiver is very tiring and brain shakenly hard to put it mildly, but you push and fight to make things happen!  I know what it was like for me, being the caregiver for Jack, (and I would do it all over again!), and I don’t want him to have the added stress of finances. I know it is killing him inside right now, thinking “what can I do!” (it’s not like he can go out and get a job. Due to his health issues he is not able to maintain a job). So, I WANT HIM TO TOTALLY FOCUS ON ME AND ME ONLY. Is that selfish? If it is, then I am being selfish, and I am not a selfish person.  I will give to someone else before I give to myself, and I never think of myself first, but this time I am asking for your help to help me make this journey a little easier, so I don’t have to worry about it.

I will continue to work; I work for a wonderful understanding company, RLH Construction LLC in Oviedo Florida.  It will help to keep my mind on other things and not focused on the treatment or what I am feeling from the treatment.  RLH is 100% behind me to make sure I don’t have the stress of the job come over me.  My biggest concern is missing a pay day since there may be times I will not be able to work. I told them I would make up the time, or work from home, but they have been more than understanding, and continue to tell me, “We will work it out”.  I have 40 hours of PTO that will start in July so that will help.  I want to thank everyone for their support at RLH, I have only been with the company since the middle of Jan 2015, and a VERY, VERY special THANK YOU to my Supervisor Kathy and Yvette, head of HR. They are very knowledgeable about cancer and treatments. 

As time seems to be standing still for me right now and it all seems very surreal. I know the hard days are coming, and I know I can do it with faith in God and the support of Family and Friends.

This is the scripture I will read every day to strengthen me, and to remind me he is with me:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10

Whatever you feel you can offer will be greatly appreciated.  I would also like to ask for one more thing, PLEASE keep me in your thoughts and prayers! 

 As my journey moves forward, Jack or I will keep you updated on Facebook with my progress.

Thank you in advance for your kindness, Mary
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Donations 

  • Joan Ventimiglia
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
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Organizer

Mary Shafer Richardson
Organizer
Lake Mary, FL

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