Dear Kindly Folk:
My name is Coke and here is my latest skinny:
I had breast cancer at age 40 and did the most aggressive treatments available: bilateral mastectomies, chemo, radiation and hormones. Brutal effective for 17 years.
In April of 2017 I had a recurrence of breast cancer on my sternum and was diagnosed as stage 4 breast cancer which has spread to my lymph nodes in my lungs and into numerous bone sights.
We have been diligently attempting to save my life with both traditional and alternative treatments. We continue to keep faith and hold hope.
Nonetheless, I am no longer able to work. Our finances have taken a hit. With the fragile state of my bones we have install a bathroom, bedroom and laundry on the first floor. In addition we had to pay for repairs for flooding to our basement from a fall storm. My husband had the hardship of fishing boat repairs this past summer which kept him off of the water for a good part of the season.
Our friends and family have been very generous yet we continue to struggle as winter approaches and our medical bills accumulate.
I truly feel blessed and aware of our great fortune to have people love us through this experience and I would like to say I was the healthiest person any of us knew until I wasn't. It can change your life so dramatically to find oneself on disability. So may we all be in a receptive mode to the kindness that awaits us when we least expect it.
On behalf of myself and my husband I thank you in advance for holding us so tenderly with your support,
Most Sincerely,
Coke Brouwer
My name is Coke and here is my latest skinny:
I had breast cancer at age 40 and did the most aggressive treatments available: bilateral mastectomies, chemo, radiation and hormones. Brutal effective for 17 years.
In April of 2017 I had a recurrence of breast cancer on my sternum and was diagnosed as stage 4 breast cancer which has spread to my lymph nodes in my lungs and into numerous bone sights.
We have been diligently attempting to save my life with both traditional and alternative treatments. We continue to keep faith and hold hope.
Nonetheless, I am no longer able to work. Our finances have taken a hit. With the fragile state of my bones we have install a bathroom, bedroom and laundry on the first floor. In addition we had to pay for repairs for flooding to our basement from a fall storm. My husband had the hardship of fishing boat repairs this past summer which kept him off of the water for a good part of the season.
Our friends and family have been very generous yet we continue to struggle as winter approaches and our medical bills accumulate.
I truly feel blessed and aware of our great fortune to have people love us through this experience and I would like to say I was the healthiest person any of us knew until I wasn't. It can change your life so dramatically to find oneself on disability. So may we all be in a receptive mode to the kindness that awaits us when we least expect it.
On behalf of myself and my husband I thank you in advance for holding us so tenderly with your support,
Most Sincerely,
Coke Brouwer
Organizer and beneficiary
Colleen Brouwer
Beneficiary