The long road to recovery

My aunt Dee has faced a multitude of challenges, and this is her story.

My name is Deanna Roy, and I have been battling cancer for nearly two years now. Living in a small, rural community in Northern Canada, I have been forced to rely heavily on my family and friends for support, borrowing as much as I can and even taking out a second mortgage to cover my expenses. The costs associated with cancer treatment have been staggering.

Throughout my journey, I've undergone 50 days of radiation therapy and have had numerous hospital visits, with the nearest hospital being a grueling two-hour drive each way. While I did receive some financial assistance from the Cancer Society, it only covered a fraction of my travel expenses. As a result, I've fallen behind on my mortgage and accumulated additional bills, leading me to take out yet another small loan against my home. This situation has left me in dire need of financial help, and I am reaching out to friends, family, and anyone willing to lend a hand.

I want to emphasize that I do not recommend donating to cancer charities. These organizations are non-profit, meaning they do not provide direct financial support to patients for health care or aftercare. Instead, a significant portion of their funding goes towards salaries for executives and administrative staff, while volunteers often carry out the bulk of the work. Despite receiving government funding and donations for over a century, these organizations contribute only a small amount towards research. It’s disheartening to realize that cancer patients often do not receive the care and support they truly need.

Our community has limited healthcare resources, with no taxis or public transportation available. On top of my cancer diagnosis, I also suffer from chronic idiopathic urticaria, an autoimmune condition that causes daily hives and can be life-threatening. This hereditary condition has complicated my recovery from cancer, making the entire process even more challenging.

At this point, I'm reaching out for help as my family and I are overwhelmed by debt. The stress of our situation has taken a toll on all of us, and unfortunately, stress exacerbates my autoimmune condition. Any funds raised will go towards repaying those who have generously supported me, even when they themselves were struggling, as well as covering the loans and bills that have accumulated during my treatment. My hope is to prevent losing our home, which I wish to pass down to my son in the future. Knowing that he would be taken care of would bring me peace of mind. Thank you for considering supporting us during this difficult time.