Rayshawn Franklin Family Fund

This whole journey started in April 2011 when Ray noticed a lump in his tummy after wrestling with a friend. Wi...thin the week, after other scans and biopsy, was diagnosed with Desmoplastic small round cell tumor. Cancer? Really? I told the doctors right away that we didn't want to hear stages, percentages or the negatives. Just tell us what we need to do next and we will handle anything that comes up if and when it ever does. I took a leave of absence from work and then he started a grueling, aggressive 8 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and 6 weeks everyday of radiation which ended in January of 2012. After scans showed no evidence of disease. He went back to school, hair grew back in and normal life returned. I even returned to my job and got caught back up on bills. Then in December 2012 during a routine catscan it showed the cancer had returned. So, the battle begins again. We had options and that was a huge blessing! We tried 2 more different kinds of chemotherapy which didn't work and 4 more lumps grew in his chest. He is now on his 4th and last kind of chemotherapy available right now. Need a miracle! During this journey my marriage has ended. I'm now a single mom juggling 2 teenage boys, a home, a job in which I'm only working 2 days a week, numerous hospital visits, and just normal everyday bills. I have turned off everything that is not a necessity and have been as frugal as I can. Our biggest expense right now besides my mortgage is Food. Rays appetite with chemo is so specific sometimes because of his taste buds. When he feels like eating something (he craves seafood a lot) I basically need to get it so he will eat and keep his weight on. Trying to keep 12 medications straight right now and I just cant comprehend taking care of a NG tube for him to eat. I need him eating regular, healthy, fresh food! Thank you for taking the time to read our story. This has been a challenging journey full of prayers, strength, tears, laughter, heartbreak, faith, joy, humbling, and blessings. Thank you Lord for your constant presence through it all.