Written by Rhonda's daughter, Hilary: My mom began having pain in her leg back in December. She thought she had injured her knee and seemed to be having some pain due to sciatica. She was seeing the chiropractor regularly and trying to be careful. She went to the doctor several times and didn't receive much help. We were caring for her at home, but the pain had become so severe that she was unable to walk or bear weight at all. My dad and I were doing our best to help her with daily life, but at one point she fell. The pain after the fall was excruciating and she was unable to move the leg without being in horrible pain. After several days, I called the ambulance to take her to the hospital. At this point, we still believed she had a terrible injury to the knee. Within a couple hours, she was in an ambulance on her way to Harrison hospital with a likely diagnosis of cancer. She spent several weeks in Harrison, and was terribly ill. She had surgery to stabilize the bones in her leg in hope to help her walk again. She was sent to a rehab center in Sequim, but was only there a week or so when she was sent via ambulance to PA hospital for a gastrointestinal bleed. They shipped her back to Harrison for several more weeks where she began radiation and chemo for a squamous cell cancer of unknown origin. By this time, we knew the cancer was in her leg, her lungs and in her brain. She was stabilized enough to send her to Forks Community Hospital where she stayed for around 2 weeks. She is living at my grandma's house. It is best that she has round the clock supervision. She is still unable to walk and needs assistance with most tasks. In addition, this gives my dad an opportunity to get some things done. He is out of work at this time to care for her. She has completed 15 full brain radiation treatments, multiple chemo regimens, and continues to go regularly for appointments with the cancer specialist in Sequim, orthopedic surgeon in Bremerton, and regulary Physical Therapy and bloodwork appointments in Forks. In total, she spent approximately 2 months in the hospital. We are doing our very best to stay on top of the bills as they come in, but the cost for her care has been very high. Her current chemo meds are running $500 every 2 weeks. This does not include the other large number of meds she takes for other reasons. My dad is running out of time that he can be off work and we have to make some decisions about how to continue her care. We will either need him to quit working (not possible as they need the income) or hire someone to come in to help her periodically during the day so we can work.

Added note from brother Lanny Black:  My sister, Rhonda, is the kindest and most tender hearted person I know.   She would do anything for anyone.  Please help them during this tough time for my family if you can. Thanks.