I don’t talk about my family much, but recently we all got not-so-great news for my nana (Anna Elmen). She was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer with lymph node involvement. While we are not worried about her capability of fighting it, we are worried about what this will look like for her financially as she still works part-time living in her own apartment in South Carolina away from the majority of her family.

My nana lived with us for 15 years when I was growing up in both NC and PA. She was our built-in babysitter and can account for helping shape me into who I am today. We went on beach trips, movie dates, and everything in between! She’d threaten to smack us with a flip-flop here and there, keeping us kids in check!

When I was in high school, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, did the rounds of radiation, a lumpectomy, and was cancer-free and rang the bell. 10 years later, after doing everything she was supposed to, staying ahead of mammograms, blood work, etc., here we are.

The plans in the upcoming weeks and months are to schedule an MRI and mediport placement, and to start a 12-week round of chemo in early June in the hopes to have surgical intervention once things start to shrink, hopefully.

With that being said, she will not be able to work throughout this, and we are still unsure of what Wal-Mart will help her with FMLA and short-term disability-wise. If you’re able to donate, we would be more than appreciative. If not, even sharing would help out tremendously!

Thank you all so much!