I Need Your Help! Fighting Breast Cancer
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Hi, my name is Barbara Ellis, I am a 56 year old special needs bus driver for Alvin Independent School District. All my life I’ve been a caretaker. I was a paramedic for many years and I helped several family members with cancer through their illnesses to recovery or death. Approximately a month ago, I got the results of my mammogram and after subsequent testing I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer on September 17th. I have never been on this end of the cancer journey. As you can imagine, my head is swimming with all the details, all the steps I need to take to beat this. Right now my focus is meeting with my team of doctors to get a plan together. They want to move quickly. I will have to have a lumpectomy with, a paid in advance, out of pocket cost of $7000 prior to surgery. This is only a small part of what cancer costs. I will also have to have radiation and possibly chemo therapy. Time is the enemy of cancer, the longer it is inside me the higher the chance it has to spread.
However, my second priority is to complete an additional 80 hours at work (above normal), so I will be eligible for FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and not lose my job or my insurance. I am working hard to have enough hours completed by the middle of November.
2020 has been a nightmare for most of us and mine began in November when one of my family members contracted COVID-19 before it was COVID-19. She’s 69 and is still struggling to recover some nine months later. She lives with me and we were already struggling to make ends meet prior to Covid. And now, I find myself diagnosed with cancer.
I’m reaching out because I don’t know how I will gather the funds to fight cancer. After the lumpectomy, I will start radiation and possibly chemo and can expect not to work for 2 or more months. I am not even sure of the costs of the chemo or the radiation. While I am working to keep my insurance and my job, I will not have a salary until I return to work. Please if you can, any donation will help and be greatly appreciated. I am a Christ follower, I have lifted my petitions up to the Lord and have confidence and hope that he is in charge and I will beat cancer. If you are unable to donate, please keep me and my family in your prayers.
Sincerely, Barbara Ellis
James 1:6-7
However, my second priority is to complete an additional 80 hours at work (above normal), so I will be eligible for FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and not lose my job or my insurance. I am working hard to have enough hours completed by the middle of November.
2020 has been a nightmare for most of us and mine began in November when one of my family members contracted COVID-19 before it was COVID-19. She’s 69 and is still struggling to recover some nine months later. She lives with me and we were already struggling to make ends meet prior to Covid. And now, I find myself diagnosed with cancer.
I’m reaching out because I don’t know how I will gather the funds to fight cancer. After the lumpectomy, I will start radiation and possibly chemo and can expect not to work for 2 or more months. I am not even sure of the costs of the chemo or the radiation. While I am working to keep my insurance and my job, I will not have a salary until I return to work. Please if you can, any donation will help and be greatly appreciated. I am a Christ follower, I have lifted my petitions up to the Lord and have confidence and hope that he is in charge and I will beat cancer. If you are unable to donate, please keep me and my family in your prayers.
Sincerely, Barbara Ellis
James 1:6-7
Organizer
Barbara Ellis
Organizer
Manvel, TX