Brenda's Medical Fund
Donation protected
We are Ben & Maria Espinoza, and we are putting together a campaign to help a wonderful family (Randy & Brenda Alarcon) get through some debilitating medical hardships. Brenda is undergoing her 3rd bout with breast cancer, and very recently underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor. Although we would love to write something amazing to help them, we could not put into better words what our nephew writes below. Anything will be appreciated no matter what the amount might be. If you can't assist monetarily, keeping Brenda and Randy in your prayers during this difficult period is also welcome. We sincerely thank everyone ahead of time on behalf of the family:
Hi, my name is Randy Alarcon. I am from a small town in West Texas called Snyder. We have a population of about 11,000, so not much goes on here except rowdy cows that moo too loudly and wild dust storms that turn your watery eyes into mud. I realize everyone is busy (yes, even in Snyder!), but I wanted to take some of your time to talk about Courage & Heroes. Lately, I have seen many television shows and social media posts regarding what constitutes "courage" and who is really a "hero": an NFL quarterback that throws a winning touchdown is a "hero"; someone chooses a physical change in sex, they're "courageous"; someone who leads hate against a different group are considered "heroic." Although all are entitled to their opinions and views, it seems as if these words are tossed around loosely and it ends up diluting the authentic heroic actions of others. Too often, people are made out to be more brave than they really are simply because they get a certain group to agree with them.
For me, I want to tell you a story about true courage. My wife Brenda has been battling breast cancer since 2010. She has fought it off twice, and we are now in the middle of our 3rd battle with it. She also fought through brain surgery last week where the surgeons removed 3 cancerous tumors. She has never stopped fighting, nor has she had a defeatist attitude.
Brenda has also fought for her mother (who also had breast cancer), lovingly caring for her until she ultimately succumbed to the disease. My wife just refuses to be beat, refuses to spend her days on earth weakened and unable to serve God or her family well.
Brenda started chemo for the 3rd time at the beginning of 2015, and she was working 2 jobs to try to help me pay the bills, including devastating medical costs. (I have a good job in the oil field, but the oil values have taken significant drops in the past year.) She works at a local grocery store and she worked at an after-school program. She would undergo chemo once every 3 weeks, and had done really well with it, but as the week progresses from the chemo, her bones begin to hurt and she is in constant pain. And even though she has all this pain and her bones ache, she still manages to get up, put on a smile and go to work. She makes people happy and helps wherever she can; she loves God and prays with conviction for those less fortunate than her; she loves on her family and defends them when she has to; she picks me up when the days are heavily burdened and wipes my tears that no one else sees. This is the everyday life struggle she and countless others face that so much of the world doesn’t see. So if you ask me (and I may be biased), living life fully against unbelievable odds, sacrificing yourself for others whether you survive or not, is the true definition of COURAGE!! It’s facing the fear of dealing with a life and death situation, and then taking it on and saying with a smile, “You can hurt or kill me, but you will never defeat me.”
Though Brenda has experienced total loss of hair in the past, I have never hid her away from the world. I am proud to show her off as my beautiful and strong bride! Whenever we can, we continue to go to ball games, movies, church and all regular activities. And you won't believe it, but this girl cracks me up about anything! Though cancer is no laughing matter, I want you to know that we strongly believe in laughter and that laughter is a key to her recovery.
My wife may never get recognized, but she is my hero and she gives me COURAGE .... true COURAGE!! I am and will be, a better man, husband, father and son because of her.
Thank you for your time,
Randy Alarcon
Hi, my name is Randy Alarcon. I am from a small town in West Texas called Snyder. We have a population of about 11,000, so not much goes on here except rowdy cows that moo too loudly and wild dust storms that turn your watery eyes into mud. I realize everyone is busy (yes, even in Snyder!), but I wanted to take some of your time to talk about Courage & Heroes. Lately, I have seen many television shows and social media posts regarding what constitutes "courage" and who is really a "hero": an NFL quarterback that throws a winning touchdown is a "hero"; someone chooses a physical change in sex, they're "courageous"; someone who leads hate against a different group are considered "heroic." Although all are entitled to their opinions and views, it seems as if these words are tossed around loosely and it ends up diluting the authentic heroic actions of others. Too often, people are made out to be more brave than they really are simply because they get a certain group to agree with them.
For me, I want to tell you a story about true courage. My wife Brenda has been battling breast cancer since 2010. She has fought it off twice, and we are now in the middle of our 3rd battle with it. She also fought through brain surgery last week where the surgeons removed 3 cancerous tumors. She has never stopped fighting, nor has she had a defeatist attitude.
Brenda has also fought for her mother (who also had breast cancer), lovingly caring for her until she ultimately succumbed to the disease. My wife just refuses to be beat, refuses to spend her days on earth weakened and unable to serve God or her family well.
Brenda started chemo for the 3rd time at the beginning of 2015, and she was working 2 jobs to try to help me pay the bills, including devastating medical costs. (I have a good job in the oil field, but the oil values have taken significant drops in the past year.) She works at a local grocery store and she worked at an after-school program. She would undergo chemo once every 3 weeks, and had done really well with it, but as the week progresses from the chemo, her bones begin to hurt and she is in constant pain. And even though she has all this pain and her bones ache, she still manages to get up, put on a smile and go to work. She makes people happy and helps wherever she can; she loves God and prays with conviction for those less fortunate than her; she loves on her family and defends them when she has to; she picks me up when the days are heavily burdened and wipes my tears that no one else sees. This is the everyday life struggle she and countless others face that so much of the world doesn’t see. So if you ask me (and I may be biased), living life fully against unbelievable odds, sacrificing yourself for others whether you survive or not, is the true definition of COURAGE!! It’s facing the fear of dealing with a life and death situation, and then taking it on and saying with a smile, “You can hurt or kill me, but you will never defeat me.”
Though Brenda has experienced total loss of hair in the past, I have never hid her away from the world. I am proud to show her off as my beautiful and strong bride! Whenever we can, we continue to go to ball games, movies, church and all regular activities. And you won't believe it, but this girl cracks me up about anything! Though cancer is no laughing matter, I want you to know that we strongly believe in laughter and that laughter is a key to her recovery.
My wife may never get recognized, but she is my hero and she gives me COURAGE .... true COURAGE!! I am and will be, a better man, husband, father and son because of her.
Thank you for your time,
Randy Alarcon
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Espinoza
Organizer
El Dorado Hills, CA
Randy Alarcon
Beneficiary