Erica's Fight Against Sarcoma

A message from the Awong family:

Hello to all the friends, family, and people out there ready to listen. I think we can all agree that the past 3 years with the pandemic and various setbacks in the world like lockdowns have been rough for all of us. Unfortunately for some families, like ours, things have been extra difficult. Just when our family had hoped the hardship we have faced for the past couple of years was coming to an end, in early 2022 Erica lost a dear sister to the battle against cancer only to take up the same fight herself.

Erica’s sister was a petite woman with the biggest heart. Our family was under the impression the loss of one of the most kind-hearted and gentle souls would be the peak of tragedy for our year but we were mistaken. When attending the funeral to mourn the loss of Erica's sister in the presence of loved ones, many of our relatives noticed something a bit off about our very own Erica.

She had a significant drop in weight and at the time it wasn't a major concern, we all assumed it was years of dieting that finally paid off. The alarms in our heads started to go off a few weeks after the funeral when Erica started to comment about leg pain.

With a fresh loss in the family, the first concern was “could it be cancer…?” but it was a concern none of us wanted to voice, a concern none of us wanted to be true. A doctor's appointment was scheduled in hopes of the best, all while there was a hidden fear of expecting the worst. We saw how cancer impacted the ones we loved, we saw how it could wear someone down and change their life forever, and it was not something we needed to witness ever again, especially so soon.

At this particular doctor's appointment, we did receive the best, a possible “muscle sprain”. While no pain is good pain, this was wonderful news to us at the time. It was proof our worst nightmares were nothing to fear. It was the best-case scenario we had hoped it would be but little did we know sometimes life has other plans and this doctor's appointment would be the first of many.

When we were told that the “muscle sprain” wasn't a major concern unless it gets worse, and that we just had to keep an eye on it, we thought that was the end of things. Except the pain didn't get better, it got worse. And with this pain came a follow-up appointment not very long after, a small mass beginning to form on her inner thigh, and a new word for our vocabulary “sarcoma”.

All of our biggest fears came true, it was cancer.

Even when we thought we would prepare for the worst that day, nothing prepared us for the months of radiation, chemotherapy, and hospital visits we would endure for the next several months and are still facing.

We didn't know how someone filled with so much youth, who is a hard worker, dedicated to helping others, a person who was happy and active could be left so fragile and a shadow of their former self.

We never knew just how much it would cost to be able to just go back to a normal life, a life that wasn't filled with hospital admissions, medications, and treatments. The expenses of living are high, both finically and emotionally for us.

If you could just donate even the smallest amount it would help cover the financial strains and let us focus on healing together. To us donations aren't just a number you type and in a few moments, it comes from your bank account to us it's an opportunity to get better. An opportunity to save a life. An opportunity to give a family a chance at happiness again. To let a grandmother see her granddaughter grow up. To let a daughter know she has a fighting chance to give her mother a day without pain, without stress. It’s a chance to let a woman know that she can live.

We may not reach our goal but that's ok. Any support, or prayers, or any other forms of kindness are welcomed. Any kindness no matter how big or small makes a difference and we hope you can be a part of that difference.

Thank you.