Can I bend your ear for a minute?

I’ve been working full-time and often a second part-time job since I was 19. Now I’m 54. Over the past 35 years, I have been paying premiums for healthcare. If I had to guess how much I contributed, I’d say it's somewhere in the neighborhood of $125,000 (on the low end). And I've never really had to use it besides regular doctor visits. I’ve never had a major accident or illness. That is until now.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 17, 2024 (which happened to be my Grandmother’s first “heavenly” birthday). Even though it was still in its early stage, I still had to go through a screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, a consultation with a breast cancer surgeon, MRI, follow-up with the breast cancer surgeon, partial mastectomy with reconstruction, 3 follow-up visits, a consultation with an oncologist, and a consultation with a radiologist. All of this took place from August through December 2024.

But, the journey is not over. Starting on January 2, 2025, I get to start radiation therapy. I’m scheduled for 16 treatments in a 3-week time frame. Although the surgeon was able to remove the cancerous cells in my breast, it was graded as level 3, which means it was very aggressive. I also have been rated as high risk (9.2 out of 10) for recurrence. Even with radiation therapy, I am facing a 15% chance of recurrence (which is better than 42% without radiation treatment). That is why I am seeking this treatment.

The only issue is, my share of the “co-insurance” is a little over $5,000. I’ve already accumulated more than that on all of the previous treatments I received over the past 5 months and even set up a payment plan for some of it that I couldn’t pay out of pocket. And now my pockets are tapped. As a single mother whose annual income has dropped by 40% over the past two years, I have no more money to pay and can’t take on not one more penny of debt.

I’m asking for donations to help cover my medical bills and other expenses. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference and help me focus on what truly matters—recovery.

Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with others. Your generosity will mean the world to me during this difficult time.

With warmth and gratitude,

Dawn Carter