Amanda❤️& Vivian’s DANCE ❤️

Sheree Gartshore is organising this fundraiser.

Donation protected

I am a friend and previous coworker of Amanda. We had worked along side one another as Nurses. Amanda had to leave work over a year ago to begin the biggest fight of her life, and for her life.

She was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer called Osteosarcoma. She has endured a rigorous course of treatment. Amanda has had half of her hip and femur replaced and had valiantly completed months of debilitating chemotherapy; as well as occupational therapy and physical therapy in order to walk again.

Amanda has a beautiful daughter named Vivian, who recently turned 5 years old.

This Momma Bear has been fighting hard, surviving and persevering in order to have as much time as she can to create lasting memories with Vivian.

I wanted to reach out to Amanda to be of support when the news first arrived; given I know the tribulations of the cancer journey and how it affects the depths of your soul as a Mother fighting to survive. However, I did not want to burden Amanda as I knew she was already carrying so much on her plate.

I waited a little and then passed the message along through a mutual friend, that I would be here for Amanda, if she needed to talk.

A little more time went on and I hadn’t heard from Amanda.

So, when our mutual friend was married this past summer. I saw Amanda.

l approached Amanda and we talked for a while about things, and life. Amanda was sitting at a table with her Mother. And that is when I met Vivian (whom is a beautiful and bubbly little girl).

Vivian came running up to her Momma, tugging on her arm, and jumping up and down with such pure, sweet childhood innocence, excitedly and repeatedly asking “Momma, Can you dance with me?! Momma, I want to dance!!!!”

I could see a Mother’s heartbreak in Amanda’s eyes as she tried to explain to Vivian that “Well, Momma can’t dance” Vivian asked over and over, not understanding the reasons why.

Her Mother was still healing, requiring a cane to walk and had to be careful, because the surgery was so extensive and the Doctor had told Amanda if it breaks, then that would be it.

Amanda disclosed to me that day that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs, over 30 lesions and she was hopeful to have what one would know to be an extensive and dangerous pulmonary surgery. I believe Amanda was on blood thinners for blood clots and pulmonary emboli (dangerous medications).

AND SO, The story be told…

A short while later, Amanda was on the dance floor with Vivian. Vivian looked up into her Mother’s eyes with such love and happiness, almost as if she would explode with joy, as she twirled around her Mother on the dance floor.

A MOTHERS LOVE ❤️

Not long after the wedding, Amanda contacted me. I went to deliver some things to Amanda and we sat and talked.

Amanda shared with me, that the metastatic disease in her lungs was inoperable because the surgery was too risky. And maybe they would start a new kind of chemo.

We talked about the devastation of the disease, and how she had to return to work, because if she didn’t she would be terminated and therefore lose her health insurance. Her employer was also telling her that she was not fit for the job, and so Amanda was fighting that battle as well. Not to mention, dealing with her health insurance, and the crappy way they treat you. They make everything impossible for you, always requesting information that you as a patient struggling to survive, have to obtain from the multiple doctors, labs and imaging etc. All of this in order for them to agree to pay the hospital bills - (they make you feel like you have to prove to them that your illness is valid enough). Just another bloody nightmare in itself.

My heart was breaking for Amanda as she was sharing all this horrible and corrupt treatment she was receiving. I can attest to this, as I received very similar treatment.

Then Amanda broke down and cried and my heart sunk further. I jumped up and hugged her as I could feel her pain.

Between her sobs, she stated “if I only have a certain amount of time left to live, I don’t want to be living it fighting all these battles and having to go to work” (which was exhausting her and taking valuable time away from the time she wanted to share with her daughter). “I don’t want to live with the fear of losing my job and my health insurance! I want to be living it making memories with my daughter and watching her grow!”

I hugged her even harder and the only words that could come out of my mouth were “ I AM going to help you! I AM going to help you figure this out!”

The strength, the courage, and the fight, I understood, as a Mother. I could see the disparity in her eyes.

Since that day, Amanda has found out that there is new metastatic disease in her iliac crest, with questionable sacrum involvement, and gluteal muscle involvement. This lesion is approximately 7 cm.

The course of treatment will be grueling. She has her family and little Vivian by her side to comfort her.

Please find it in your heart to help anyway you can, as currently Amanda is not able to work. She has devoted herself providing exceptional care to her patients, as a Nurse. It’s time that devotion be bestowed upon her.

Let’s pray hard for this young family as Amanda is only in her 30s. That, by the Grace of God we ALL can help….

PLEASE LET’S HELP…

SO AMANDA AND VIVIAN CAN HAVE MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DANCE AND MAKE MEMORIES ❤️❤️