My name is Nichelle, and I’m humbly asking for your support for my cousin Telana Courseault during the hardest time of her life.

About eighteen months ago, she left her job to care for her father in Arizona, who had dementia. She later returned home to California to address some of her own health concerns and started rebuilding. She was grateful to begin a new job only to receive devastating news that same day: she was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer.

Since then, her life has been a whirlwind of aggressive treatments, surgeries, and survival. After her first round of chemo, she became severely ill and had to miss three days of work. She submitted a doctor’s note, but just before her probationary period ended, she was laid off. She lost her income and, with it, her ability to afford even the most basic needs like a phone or food.

She's undergone 6 months of harsh chemotherapy and a subsequent double mastectomy. While the visible tumor was removed, she still has cancer cells in her body. She now faces another nine months of chemo to fight the remaining cells and starting another treatment to fight the other cancer simultaneously.

She's been denied Social Security Disability twice and is only receiving $23 a month in food stamps. She currently doesn’t have a phone of her own—our other cousin generously gave her one and is covering the bill. Every day is a battle spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially.

I’m asking for help with the basics: rent, groceries, transportation to treatment, medication.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my cousin's story. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this with others who might be able to help.

With gratitude,

Nichelle M. Francis