for my amazing mom - let's kick cancers ass
Donation protected
3 months ago, my mom was diagnosed with an aggressive Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Unfortunately at the time of her diagnosis, she was uninsured and at a very low point in her life - physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
My beautiful mom, Bobbi, has spent a good part of her life dedicating herself to the care and needs of others. Working in drug and alcohol addiction for over 10 years, she started as a volunteer for a faith-based rehabilitation center in Los Angeles. There was no looking back from there, she fell in love. After working full time during the day, she went to night school to earn her certification to officially be a Counselor (while also being a full-time mom and wife!). She returned to work at the same rehab that stole her heart as a newly certified counselor. She loved what she did and the men and women she supported. They truly loved her too.
After many years, she realized that her time at Beit T'Shuvah was coming to a close. She continued her work as a counselor at several higher-end treatment centers, eventually working her way to becoming the Assistant Program Director at an all women's dual diagnosed treatment center. After a few years, the center closed and she continued to see and mentor clients privately.
To this day, she still receives calls, texts, and facebook messages from the women and men she supported who are eternally grateful for her love and care. She is the greatest mother to me and my older brother and an incredibly loyal and generous human being. I don't know what I would do without her.
The past few years have been overwhelmingly challenging for her. She was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and the constant chronic pain limited her ability to live a normal life and to continue her work. She took a huge financial hit and since then has been in a very dark place.
About a year ago, she noticed an odd growth on her face that kept getting larger and became very painful. After gaining the courage to go see a dermatologist, her growth was biopsied and officially diagnosed as Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The severe pain she has been experiencing is a great concern and is usually an indicator that the disease has metastasized. After many consultations with different dermatology surgeons at UCLA, it has been decided that the initial MOHs surgery to remove the cancer will not be performed until she can be seen by a head and neck surgeon to determine whether or not it has spread into the nerves in her face. Dealing with the MediCal system has been an enormous fight in itself and it wasn't until last week she was denied to see the Head and Neck cancer surgeon at UCLA she was referred to. We want her to get the very best care possible, and feel very strongly that she will be in the best hands being treated by Dr. Maie St John at UCLA.
I am here today, humbly asking for any kind of support for my mom. These funds will go towards health insurance that will allow her to receive care at UCLA, other medical expenses that my family and I cannot solely provide, and general relief for her living expenses from being out of work for such a long time.
I truly apologize for the length of this message, but I felt it was important to share just a piece of my moms story. She has always been the strong, resilient superhero and backbone for our family, and would never ask anyone for help (she doesn't know I am doing this). So I am here on her behalf, asking for the help she so desperately needs.
Thanking you from the bottom of my heart
Ali
Unfortunately at the time of her diagnosis, she was uninsured and at a very low point in her life - physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
My beautiful mom, Bobbi, has spent a good part of her life dedicating herself to the care and needs of others. Working in drug and alcohol addiction for over 10 years, she started as a volunteer for a faith-based rehabilitation center in Los Angeles. There was no looking back from there, she fell in love. After working full time during the day, she went to night school to earn her certification to officially be a Counselor (while also being a full-time mom and wife!). She returned to work at the same rehab that stole her heart as a newly certified counselor. She loved what she did and the men and women she supported. They truly loved her too.
After many years, she realized that her time at Beit T'Shuvah was coming to a close. She continued her work as a counselor at several higher-end treatment centers, eventually working her way to becoming the Assistant Program Director at an all women's dual diagnosed treatment center. After a few years, the center closed and she continued to see and mentor clients privately.
To this day, she still receives calls, texts, and facebook messages from the women and men she supported who are eternally grateful for her love and care. She is the greatest mother to me and my older brother and an incredibly loyal and generous human being. I don't know what I would do without her.
The past few years have been overwhelmingly challenging for her. She was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and the constant chronic pain limited her ability to live a normal life and to continue her work. She took a huge financial hit and since then has been in a very dark place.
About a year ago, she noticed an odd growth on her face that kept getting larger and became very painful. After gaining the courage to go see a dermatologist, her growth was biopsied and officially diagnosed as Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The severe pain she has been experiencing is a great concern and is usually an indicator that the disease has metastasized. After many consultations with different dermatology surgeons at UCLA, it has been decided that the initial MOHs surgery to remove the cancer will not be performed until she can be seen by a head and neck surgeon to determine whether or not it has spread into the nerves in her face. Dealing with the MediCal system has been an enormous fight in itself and it wasn't until last week she was denied to see the Head and Neck cancer surgeon at UCLA she was referred to. We want her to get the very best care possible, and feel very strongly that she will be in the best hands being treated by Dr. Maie St John at UCLA.
I am here today, humbly asking for any kind of support for my mom. These funds will go towards health insurance that will allow her to receive care at UCLA, other medical expenses that my family and I cannot solely provide, and general relief for her living expenses from being out of work for such a long time.
I truly apologize for the length of this message, but I felt it was important to share just a piece of my moms story. She has always been the strong, resilient superhero and backbone for our family, and would never ask anyone for help (she doesn't know I am doing this). So I am here on her behalf, asking for the help she so desperately needs.
Thanking you from the bottom of my heart
Ali
Organizer
Alexandra Verdi
Organizer
Encino, CA