Battling Breast Cancer - Take 2
Donation protected
Our dear friend, Shelly Marmillion, is currently battling breast cancer for the second time. Between the medical bills, everyday living expenses, two children, and her not being able to work, the financial burden of the cancer has almost outweighed the battle of cancer itself. Any amount of help is appreciated!
Here is her story...
In 2012, 3 months after my 35th birthday, I discovered a lump in my left breast. The following day, after a mammogram, ultrasound & biopsy, my worst fears were confirmed ~ I had breast cancer.
We decided that since I was young & healthy, we’d throw the book at it; I had double mastectomies, 22 lymph nodes removed, radiation & chemotherapy. When all was said & done, I had less than a 1% chance of a reoccurrence.
I settled back into the life I knew & loved ~ I went back to work as a surgical assistant and continued to raise our 2 kids with my husband.
In March of this year, I began having low back pain, but I assumed it was from being on my feet all day and maybe I had pulled a muscle, or at worst, had a bulging disc from lifting patients. When things failed to improve after physical therapy & muscle relaxers, we decided to do an MRI. Not once did think the cancer had spread...I had less than a 1% chance, right? The MRI showed I had cancer in 3 vertebrae as well as a lymph node in my neck. Within a week, I had lost the ability to walk altogether.
I had surgery to fix the vertebrae in my back, 10 rounds of radiation & I’ll be on chemotherapy every 3 weeks until either my heart becomes too weak or the cancer stops responding.
One of the hardest parts of this besides dealing with the reoccurrence, is the fact that I can no longer work & do the job I love & have done for 20 years. The loss of my income has been extremely difficult as well ~ I wracked up over $7000 in medical bills in 3 short months, in addition to many other mounting bills because I’m unable to work.
Having cancer & fighting to stay alive is incredibly stressful. I do my best each day to stay upbeat, positive & put on a happy face...I know things could be worse. I will say the financial stress on top of everything has made it difficult to keep my focus on fighting, not just for me, but for my kids, my husband & everyone else who is touched by this disease.
Here is her story...
In 2012, 3 months after my 35th birthday, I discovered a lump in my left breast. The following day, after a mammogram, ultrasound & biopsy, my worst fears were confirmed ~ I had breast cancer.
We decided that since I was young & healthy, we’d throw the book at it; I had double mastectomies, 22 lymph nodes removed, radiation & chemotherapy. When all was said & done, I had less than a 1% chance of a reoccurrence.
I settled back into the life I knew & loved ~ I went back to work as a surgical assistant and continued to raise our 2 kids with my husband.
In March of this year, I began having low back pain, but I assumed it was from being on my feet all day and maybe I had pulled a muscle, or at worst, had a bulging disc from lifting patients. When things failed to improve after physical therapy & muscle relaxers, we decided to do an MRI. Not once did think the cancer had spread...I had less than a 1% chance, right? The MRI showed I had cancer in 3 vertebrae as well as a lymph node in my neck. Within a week, I had lost the ability to walk altogether.
I had surgery to fix the vertebrae in my back, 10 rounds of radiation & I’ll be on chemotherapy every 3 weeks until either my heart becomes too weak or the cancer stops responding.
One of the hardest parts of this besides dealing with the reoccurrence, is the fact that I can no longer work & do the job I love & have done for 20 years. The loss of my income has been extremely difficult as well ~ I wracked up over $7000 in medical bills in 3 short months, in addition to many other mounting bills because I’m unable to work.
Having cancer & fighting to stay alive is incredibly stressful. I do my best each day to stay upbeat, positive & put on a happy face...I know things could be worse. I will say the financial stress on top of everything has made it difficult to keep my focus on fighting, not just for me, but for my kids, my husband & everyone else who is touched by this disease.
Organizer and beneficiary
Gretta Lynn Blankenship
Organizer
Baton Rouge, LA
Shelly Hannan Marmillion
Beneficiary
