Crystal Cancer Fund

It has taken 3 years of conversations and 1 year of just not wanting to tell the world, but now we are here. My sister Crystal as many know is battling breast cancer, unfortunately due to treatments she has developed additional illnesses. My name is Cynthia and I am her oldest sister.  Initially she did not want the world to know or ask for help, but now we have agreed that it is time to share the story and get help. Crystal was told she had aggressive Stage 4 triple negative breast cancer on her birthday May 24, 2011, the worst birthday gift ever. I found her sitting in the dark devistated at my house. I thought we were going to dinner but unbeknownst to us birthday dinners would never be the same.  This began a long line of surgeries for breast removals, infections and reconstruction (and more work is needed but her pain tolerance has depricated and her emotions cannot manage it) and subsequently a extended round of chemotherapy. Cancer was new to our family so we believed that after chemo  things might go back to semi normal. Sadly that was not the story she developed side affects due to treatments and medications. Neuropathy which makes it difficult to raise either arm and tenderness to touch. Fibromyalgia which has caused significant nerve damage throughtout her body, just to name a few remaining problems.  Signs of kidney damage is present and all hair and folicles are gone which has damaged her self esteem to this date. Due to education she believes that she should be able to work full or part time. She feels that because of her education she should have the opportunity to work in her field. She has obtained employment but cannot maintain any positions due to her infrequent bathroom breaks, pain and drowsiness. She wants to live on her own but that has not worked out, total independence is a thing of the past. Minimally 2 more surgeries are needed to bring her to her level of whole and medical expenses have bombarded the entire family. This fund is to raise funds for remaining surgeries, medical expenses that she has monthly and minimal living expenses.