Support for Widget's Breast Cancer

Never in a million years would I have ever thought I'd have to ask for help. Doesn't matter how long you have known me, you'd be remiss if you didn't recognize that I am a stubborn and independent individual. I thought for sure I could get through all of this by myself... However, I'm in a place where I have to suck up my pride and ask for help.

I have worked since the day I was diagnosed, and could not be more grateful to Captain Derek's Dolphin Adventure Tours. However, it was clear I could not efficiently do a job as a First Mate pretty early on (all my love to the Captains that taped cleats for me!), but Amy, Derek and the entire crew were beyond kind enough to include me in their awesome family. I will forever be in debt to them and the amount of gratitude I have for them is overwhelming.

So, here's a little bit of my story. I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on 12/19/23. I had a lumpectomy on both breasts on 2/20/24. I started chemotherapy on 3/29/24 starting with 4 treatments of Doxorubicin, which is also known as "Red Devil" chemo. It's literally the harshest chemo you can get. I got through those, and had 12 weeks of Taxol in the interim. As of today, 8/19/24, I only have 3 more treatments of chemo, but I also have 5 weeks of 5 day a week radiation I have to go through next.

Never in my life have I ever asked for help. Anyone that knows me knows how with every keystroke there are tears flowing from my eyes. Besides cancer, this is the hardest thing I've ever done.

I am applying for jobs all day every day, but that being said, I still have three more weeks of chemo and then radiation on top of it and I don't know how I will be able to take care of finances and the ever surmounting bills of cancer.

That being said, I'm humbly asking for your help. Literally the hardest thing I've ever done.

To everyone that I know and love and that has supported me throughout this journey, I am so incredibly grateful to you. You guys literally have no idea how much you mean to me.