Main fundraiser photo

Art For Joy

THE CANCER AND THE TREATMENT 

Early this December my mother Joy,  was unfortunately diagnosed with stage three locally advanced breast cancer with a tumor about the size of her fist in her left breast with lymph nodes involved. As treatment for her cancer she must receive six, three hour IV chemotherapy sessions, 1 session about every three weeks. After the chemo she must undergo a mastectomy (removal of the breast) and lymph node dissection. That will be the most challenging recovery period for her. Following the surgery she will need radiation therapy. Last,  five to ten years of daily anti-estrogen pill therapy. As well as an assortment of prescription to manage side effects of the treatments and other prescriptions along the way. At the start of this fundraiser she has currently just completed her second round of chemotherapy her first round landed sadly right before the holidays. She is handling the cancer like a champion, but the financial strain is very difficult. It was very scary to hear the cancer had progressed as far as it did but we feel very fortunate and optimistic because it had not spread beyond her left breast. The doctors still may recommend removing both breast as a precaution.

ABOUT MY MOM, JOY
If you have ever met my mom you would know she is just about as kind, upbeat, and talkative as a person could get. She’s done many amazing things in her life, from winning powerlifting competitions, being a polynesian dancer, getting a scuba diving licenses, building her first car, to gettting her bachelors of science degree in graphic design. She brought my sister and I into this world, got us through school even during times of great financial strain and living in a motel, she always encouraged us in everything we ever wanted to do, even if that meant her having to work twice as hard. She was there for even our friends when it was hard enough for her to just take care of our family. She is a great mother, a great person and she did it all as a single mother, with her sole income from a close to minimum wage laborious job, washing and grooming dogs, sometimes dogs as be as 150 pounds  just to keep herself afloat and be there for my sister and I when whenever need her, and still works this job even at 60 years old. She was the first person to inspire me to be an artist, when I was young she bought me Yugioh and Pokémon cards, Digimon and Miyazaki movies, encouraged me to play outside and develop my imagination, and of course played a huge positive role in why I am the person I am today.


HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL HELP HER
I really would just love to give my mother a bit of a break during such a difficult time. Between weekly copays of $50 to $100 and prescription costs, costs for any treatments not fully covered by her insurance, as well as the cost of living.  It’s hard for her to get by even with extremely restrictive budgeting, from shopping at the dollar store, living in +55 apartments, not spending any money on comforts, just bare necessities, and not repairing her car, and not receiving necessary health care she needs (part of why the cancer unfortunately advanced as far as it did) it’s just to much for her very tight budget. She is still working as much as she can even throughout her chemo treatments. I am doing all I can to help, but being young and very early in my art career, I hardly make enough to get by and not burden her with being financially responsible for me as well, that’s why I’m reaching out to my wonderful friends, family, kind strangers, and fans of my art and stories to help my mom and I through this very hard time. 

your contributions will go towards helping my mom in ways like: 
. Covering copays and medical expenses 
. Compensating for her loss of income during necessary time off from work.
. Allowing her to purchase healthy higher quality food to aid her recovery, rather the cheaper processed  foods.
. Rent and bills 
. Gas and transportation to appointments 
. Ease her stress and anxiety from financial strain

ABOUT THE #ARTFORJOY FUNDRAISER PROJECT
I decided to create this hashtag for my fellow artists on Instagram to help spread the word about my mom’s fundraiser and have some fun too. If you would like to participate and help us out you can donate here and/or go over to my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ayejay_make_art/  and join my #drawthisinyourstyle #artforjoy and tag me in your post, and I will try to share on my story the art of as many kind supporters as I can :) This is me doing what I can with the help of many kind people because I can’t do it alone. I just really want to make a difference for my mom. I feel very very fortunate to have the opportunity to reach out to so many people for help. Thank you all for taking the time to read this and hear me out, donating, or spreading the word. I have much appreciation!

-AJ

Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $82 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $40 
    • 3 yrs
  • Yudiman Kwanmas
    • $15 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $15 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $15 
    • 3 yrs
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

Aye Jay
Organizer
Santa Clarita, CA
Joy Bondio
Beneficiary

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.