#ApelStrong: Andrea's Fight Against Cancer

Cancer. One of the most terrifying words a person can hear. Unfortunately, I am certain that we all know at least one person deeply affected by it. Have you ever known someone fighting TWO forms of cancer at the same time, one of which is incredibly rare? I do. It's my sister, Andrea. Shortly before Thanksgiving, she found out she has a very rare form of ovarian cancer (clear cell) after having a partial hysterectomy. Then, pathology revealed that Andrea also has uterine cancer. The good news is that her doctors are hopeful all tumors were removed during surgery. However, further testing needs to be done, and she is facing another surgery to complete the hysterectomy, followed by weeks of recovery, and then months of treatment. 

Let me tell you about my sister Andrea Apel. She is AMAZING. She is STRONG. She is DETERMINED. And she is my HERO. For the last decade she has been shaping the minds of young people in Detroit as a music teacher, creating a huge impact in these children's lives. Her life has never been a cake walk, and like most people, asking for help isn't something she wants to do. Once, her brand new car was stolen from her driveway. She didn't ask for help. Another time, her car literally caught on fire on the side of the highway. She didn't ask for help. She fought her way through all of that, and I KNOW she is going to fight her way through this. 

This time, I needed her to ask for help. And believe me, it took convincing. She doesn't want to feel like she is burdening others, especially since 2020 hasn't been easy on anyone. With a looming pandemic, getting back in school to teach anytime soon isn't very likely. The overwhelming feeling of not knowing how to pay bills and copays is the last thing I want her to worry about. I need Andrea to focus on staying well, mentally, physically and emotionally. I need her to not worry about doing any side hustles so she can eat, and put gas in her car to get to doctor's appointments. I need Andrea to use every ounce of her being to fight this battle so she can kick cancer's ass. So I am asking you to help my sister, with whatever you can, so she can focus on the big stuff for the next several months. Trust me, she is going to win this one. #ApelStrong