Support for Emy & Family
Donation protected
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonades. So far, life has given so many lemons that I’ve mastered the art of lemonading, if you can call it that. But the lemonade is sour and bitter, and I need your help to make it sweet. You see, my mother, Emy, is terminally ill. She is suffering from Stage 4 breast cancer and they have found tumors in her liver, brain, and bones, which now impairs her mobility. It wasn’t always like this. Life was promising for us when she first came to the U.S. back in 2006 when she searched for an opportunity to give her family a better life. She had multiple jobs to prepare our new lives here when she petitioned me to join her in 2009. It was going fine at start but it all changed when the first of many lemons was thrown.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2010. With the advent of modern medicine and technology, we were hopeful. We were fortunate enough to have her medical needs covered by insurance, and she went through a partial mastectomy in November 2011 and continued to seek treatment. However, she was unable to continue working due to the many side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. We started falling into debt, and things became more difficult every day. I fell into depression, battled anxiety attacks and severe chest pains. But I tried to get back on my feet and be strong for both of us.
My mother was getting better and we thought things were going to be fine until a huge lemon hit us right in the face. Her cancer has metastasized. I can vividly remember the day she went to the emergency room as she had trouble breathing and was experiencing extreme pain in her chest and back. I remember how the doctors had to explain the causes – saying that the cancer has spread to the lungs, the blood and potentially to the spine. They had found a huge mass blocking blood and air supply between her lungs and heart. In August 2014, she was told she had only one month to live.
My mother is the strongest person I have ever known. She has fought and is fighting even harder. She had her resolve to beat this cancer. Allergic to all narcotics and most pain medications, she endures the excruciating pain from her head to her legs. She went through radiation and chemo and continued to be home by herself and treated herself with natural alternatives. I had to pick myself up and start financially supporting the both of us. I barely make enough just to get by. I knew life had to keep going.
And then came another lemon when I heard that my father, who is in the Philippines, suffered a stroke wherein both sides of the brain were affected. He is now unable to work until he fully recovers. This meant the dwindling financial support we were getting from my siblings was further drained. I have sought help from family but coming from a poverty-stricken country, they can only help as much. My mother and I try to survive without any family near us to assist with our day to day challenges.
My mother is still resolved to beat this evil disease. As another tumor grows in the right side of her brain, she struggles with constant pain, breathing problems, immobility, and many other effects that the cancer is doing to her body. She is now receiving hospice care in a nursing facility as I cannot be with her every single moment. I have to maintain my job and I can only visit and assist her over the weekends.
I try to be as strong as my mom, but it gets overwhelming at times. Physically, I have my own challenges to fight as well as I manage my congenital heart disease. This is not about me; however, I do need help for my mother. She needs constant care and her insurance doesn’t cover much anymore. Our debts and bills have piled up so much that I cannot deal with on my own and we can no longer get any loan. It would be a dream for my mother to go home and see her family but the doctors advise against travel. We are looking for ways for our immediate family to come and visit at least.
And so, along with your prayers, I implore you please spare any financial assistance to help ease our burden and support my mother. No donation is too small; every dollar counts. Also, please help us spread the word and share our story.
Thank you for your love, support, and prayers for Emy and our family. I still have great hopes that our lemonade will one day be sweetened.
With love and hope,
Eillene/EJ
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2010. With the advent of modern medicine and technology, we were hopeful. We were fortunate enough to have her medical needs covered by insurance, and she went through a partial mastectomy in November 2011 and continued to seek treatment. However, she was unable to continue working due to the many side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. We started falling into debt, and things became more difficult every day. I fell into depression, battled anxiety attacks and severe chest pains. But I tried to get back on my feet and be strong for both of us.
My mother was getting better and we thought things were going to be fine until a huge lemon hit us right in the face. Her cancer has metastasized. I can vividly remember the day she went to the emergency room as she had trouble breathing and was experiencing extreme pain in her chest and back. I remember how the doctors had to explain the causes – saying that the cancer has spread to the lungs, the blood and potentially to the spine. They had found a huge mass blocking blood and air supply between her lungs and heart. In August 2014, she was told she had only one month to live.
My mother is the strongest person I have ever known. She has fought and is fighting even harder. She had her resolve to beat this cancer. Allergic to all narcotics and most pain medications, she endures the excruciating pain from her head to her legs. She went through radiation and chemo and continued to be home by herself and treated herself with natural alternatives. I had to pick myself up and start financially supporting the both of us. I barely make enough just to get by. I knew life had to keep going.
And then came another lemon when I heard that my father, who is in the Philippines, suffered a stroke wherein both sides of the brain were affected. He is now unable to work until he fully recovers. This meant the dwindling financial support we were getting from my siblings was further drained. I have sought help from family but coming from a poverty-stricken country, they can only help as much. My mother and I try to survive without any family near us to assist with our day to day challenges.
My mother is still resolved to beat this evil disease. As another tumor grows in the right side of her brain, she struggles with constant pain, breathing problems, immobility, and many other effects that the cancer is doing to her body. She is now receiving hospice care in a nursing facility as I cannot be with her every single moment. I have to maintain my job and I can only visit and assist her over the weekends.
I try to be as strong as my mom, but it gets overwhelming at times. Physically, I have my own challenges to fight as well as I manage my congenital heart disease. This is not about me; however, I do need help for my mother. She needs constant care and her insurance doesn’t cover much anymore. Our debts and bills have piled up so much that I cannot deal with on my own and we can no longer get any loan. It would be a dream for my mother to go home and see her family but the doctors advise against travel. We are looking for ways for our immediate family to come and visit at least.
And so, along with your prayers, I implore you please spare any financial assistance to help ease our burden and support my mother. No donation is too small; every dollar counts. Also, please help us spread the word and share our story.
Thank you for your love, support, and prayers for Emy and our family. I still have great hopes that our lemonade will one day be sweetened.
With love and hope,
Eillene/EJ
Organizer
EJ Tormes
Organizer
Bellflower, CA
