My name is Cara and many of you know my journey so far.
To summarize, I lost my Dad to Leukemia 4 years ago and a year later my Mom was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. I quit my job to care for her fulltime and she died in my arms 11 months later. What an honour and privilege it was to comfort my best friend as she took her final breath. I miss her every day with a constant ache in my heart.
A few months later, my 20 year marriage ended in divorce and so, my 3 sons and myself decided to leave Cape Town and move to the UK. We LOVE it here. The beauty of the English countryside brings so much peace, tranquility and serenity to my soul.
In February last year, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and my operation at Lister Hospital was the day before lockdown began. After 10 months of chemotherapy, radiation and bone infusions, I am cancer free for now, but need to continue treatment and deal with the lingering side effects.
I lost my job at the end of July due to the effects of COVID-19 on the business, and because I have had to isolate with the cancer treatment, have been unable to find alternative employment. Until now that is. Whoop whoop. I have an amazing job offer which is secure, but I can only start once lockdown is lifted and the company is working back at the premises around mid to late February.
As I am here on an Ancestral Visa I have no recourse to public funds and McMillans, other charities and food banks are helping as much as they can. I have survived these 6 months through my savings and the donations and kindness of so many on my previous GoFundMe account.
My last hurdle is the next month and not being able to pay my rent or other monthly expenses and this is where I am appealing once again to your caring, generous and compassionate souls.
It is so hard to have to keep asking and I have had to learn a lot about my pride. Giving is so much easier than receiving. I just want to be able to provide for my boys, work hard as we South African woman do and have some degree of stability after a really challenging year. I pray that soon I will be able to give back and love those around me in the same way that you have loved and cared for myself and my boys.
To summarize, I lost my Dad to Leukemia 4 years ago and a year later my Mom was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. I quit my job to care for her fulltime and she died in my arms 11 months later. What an honour and privilege it was to comfort my best friend as she took her final breath. I miss her every day with a constant ache in my heart.
A few months later, my 20 year marriage ended in divorce and so, my 3 sons and myself decided to leave Cape Town and move to the UK. We LOVE it here. The beauty of the English countryside brings so much peace, tranquility and serenity to my soul.
In February last year, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and my operation at Lister Hospital was the day before lockdown began. After 10 months of chemotherapy, radiation and bone infusions, I am cancer free for now, but need to continue treatment and deal with the lingering side effects.
I lost my job at the end of July due to the effects of COVID-19 on the business, and because I have had to isolate with the cancer treatment, have been unable to find alternative employment. Until now that is. Whoop whoop. I have an amazing job offer which is secure, but I can only start once lockdown is lifted and the company is working back at the premises around mid to late February.
As I am here on an Ancestral Visa I have no recourse to public funds and McMillans, other charities and food banks are helping as much as they can. I have survived these 6 months through my savings and the donations and kindness of so many on my previous GoFundMe account.
My last hurdle is the next month and not being able to pay my rent or other monthly expenses and this is where I am appealing once again to your caring, generous and compassionate souls.
It is so hard to have to keep asking and I have had to learn a lot about my pride. Giving is so much easier than receiving. I just want to be able to provide for my boys, work hard as we South African woman do and have some degree of stability after a really challenging year. I pray that soon I will be able to give back and love those around me in the same way that you have loved and cared for myself and my boys.
Organizer
Cara Rayner
Organizer