A home for my Malachi
Donation protected
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day, to get to know my little boy and I better. My dream was to move to a new place, with lots of opportunity for my son. A place rich with culture, diversity, and promise. Little did I know I would end up in a violent relationship, both physically and verbally.... But in one year... I would hear, "Tamika, you have Stage 4 metastatic cancer... And not much time to live. All I want... is to be able to provide for my son. I want to know that even when I am gone... he will be well taken care of..... Like I would have done, if not for this cruel disease. We have made do in poor living conditions, and God blessed us with a roof over our head.... even though it is temporary. I have always held onto the hope that things would get better. I am strong, and I would beat this thing. Then the cancer came back in January of this year. I was immediately prepared for whatever the next steps would be. I made all of my appointments, tried to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, exercised, and remained as stress free as possible. After about three or four months.... the oncologist found out that my chemotherapy and radiation were no longer working. The cancer had come back, and with a vengeance. I am now going through a new series of chemotherapy, and it is very taxing on my body. However, I still look for work.... I want to work... I want to have my own....never looking for handouts. It has become more and more clear, though, that now is not that time. All I can do is focus on my health, and my little boy's well being, My Malachi. This is exactly why I am here.... right now... as hard as it is for me to seek help. Nothing would make me feel better, comforted.... than to know that he won't have to go through what we have already been through, again....not being completely sure that he will have a roof over his head. I am not looking for sympathy....but please try and understand how it feels.... as a single mother of three children. Two of whom are grown in another state, and a nine year old... who looks to you for everything. I cry because I know he is terrified.... I cry because I am terrified at times... but i wish i could take all of his feelings of fear....and stuff them inside of me.. Only to see one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever experienced in my life. Imagine being faced with your own mortality.... humans telling you how long you have on this earth. Having your child, that you're responsible for.. Looking to you with frightened eyes. You, as this child's mother, have to do something. What would you do?
Organizer
Tamika Goode Fitzpatrick
Organizer
Hayward, CA