Donate to a good cause - help a family affected by cancer.
My name is Amy, and I am dying from stage 4 cancer. Fighting cancer is expensive, and I have been fighting cancer since 2013. Since then, our family has used our funds to keep me alive and unable to save money. Plus, cancer patients cannot get life insurance for a specific period of time after their diagnosis... so, I was never able to get any due to my multiple cancer diagnoses. I have a lot of guilt about surviving and the costs used to keep me alive.
Please help me make sure my family can take care of my remaining cancer bills, my cremation, and have something for my kids future so cancer will not take away from them.
Cancer has been part of my live since 2013 when I was diagnosed with ER/PR+ IDC Breast Cancer, where I went through my first round of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and hormone chemotherapy pills for another ten years. Unfortunately, my body responded poorly to cancer treatment and caused multiple permanent side effects that kept me going through monthly medical appointments, surgeries, and procedures. Every year, our family easily hit our insurance's max deductible and still went beyond financially. Despite my struggles, I was just at my ten-year anniversary when cancer stuck again.
In 2023, I was rear-ended in a car accident that led to the discovery of a new primary cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, that had no starting mass. Without knowing where the cancer started, I went to multiple medical facilities (MD Anderson, Vanderbilt, and my local cancer center CCI). I went through so much testing it was physically exhausting and painful. Each of these trips was very expensive too. In the end, this was a rare cancer called Carcinoma of Unknown Primary. I had to undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation for the 2nd time. And not only did I have to do this a second time, I had to spend months out of state to get care, adding another financial burden on my family.
During Christmas 2024, we learned that our attempts to fight the second caner failed - my diagnosis was terminal. The aggressive TNBC spread to the fluid around my heart, lung, and attached to few other organs. I am currently in chemotherapy for the 3rd time, and will be for as long as I try to live. While doctors have given me a year, I am determined to make the most of whatever time I have left and keep fighting with optimism and humor.
Throughout this journey, my family has been my greatest support. My husband, Marcus, has been an incredible caretaker and provider, ensuring we had medical insurance and stability. He has worked in fear, as we cannot go without insurance. In addition, cancer made it were I cannot work. Thua, it changed our plans we had for our lives, and he has never complained. He has only loved me.
My daughter, Auburne, is a gifted musician and actress who has been accepted into USC’s Dramatic Arts program, where she plans to double major in Acting and possibly French or English. She has worked tirelessly, balancing academics, athletics, and volunteer work, including creating a website to support youth affected by a family member’s cancer. She has given up a lot to support me and be my caregiver since she was six years old.
My son, Jackson, who has already graduated from college has shown immense compassion, moving back home to help care for me during my illnesses while maintaining a full time job. He has always put family first, even as he navigates his own path in life.
I am raising funds to help cover my cremation costs, ongoing and past medical expenses (this has been a decade-long cancer medical battle), and to provide for my family’s future. I want to ensure Auburne can pursue her dreams at USC without financial worry, and that Marcus and Jackson have the support they need after years of caring for me. My hope is that these funds will cover the necessities and still have some to allow my children to focus on their futures and give my family some peace of mind during this difficult time, especially since I have been unable to secure life insurance due to my medical history.
Cancer has a way of creating havoc in all aspects of your life, including this unexpected too-soon crappy death notice I have been given before I had the time to get far enough out from the first cancer to get life insurance coverage. So, your support will make a lasting difference for us, and I am deeply grateful for any help you can provide.
(I haven't passed away yet, but when I do this will be where I ask those who know and loved me to donate too. I will reference here, instead of sending flowers, food, or cards. I have had a wonderful diverse range of friends and family who love me and helped shape me into the person that I am. I hope you all share kindness daily, find joy in the small moments that often get overlooked, laugh loudly when possible, and love others (and yourself) with all your heart. My life has been an amazing ride, I will see you on the other side.)