Funds for the Fight, Debbie's Fight

On December 10, 2015 our lives changed forever. I don't think any of us will forget the moment we heard the words...

2015 was a year of challenges. Debbie's loving soul mate of 16 years, Bob, passed suddenly and unexpectedly in April. Through this tragic event we grew as a family, sometimes the most devastating tragedy will smack you into reality. Debbie began to make courageous life changes to improve her health to ensure she would be here for her family as long as possible. She quit smoking! She worked to improve her health! Soon after it was obvious that her mother, my gramma, our little one's Nana was ill and declining steadily in health. Within a few months she was diagnosed with terminal squamous cell lung cancer, in August, and shortly thereafter passed away in our arms, in October. Our family was rocked and tumbled by this hellish line of events but with our eyes on God and focused on battling through we, as a family, put one foot in front of the other and continued on our journey of life.

As Debbie returned to work, as a housekeeper in a local nursing home community, she began to feel ill. As normal she thought nothing of it, kept pushing through, working every day and being the rock and support of our family. She is momma, mamaw, supportive sister, aunt and loving friend to so many.

After being told she had pneumonia, then pluracy, a chest x-ray was done. The results were terrifying. As I sat with my momma listening to her physician tell us she had cancer, lung cancer and possibly breast cancer as well we were floored, devastated and terrified. Cancer!? How? You have to be wrong. As the following weeks passed we realized that this battle was going to be excruciatingly painful, long and hard.

Debbie's response? I will fight until I can't fight anymore!

And so the battle began.

After extensive testing in the hospital, scans, biopsies and imaging; Debbie was diagnosed with Extensive stage small cell lung cancer with metastases in her ribs, left breast, shoulder, skull bone, hip, femur and liver. I can't say how many tears we cried, the sobbing, the fear, the scary reality that this was the beginning of the scariest battle ever. Momma's first step? Prayer. Faith. Lean into God and have faith that He has the ultimate say. The support her amazing church family at One Faith Fellowship in Montvale, VA provides is breathtaking and an amazing blessing. A testament to the glory of God and the ways He works in our lives.

Debbie is currently undergoing chemotherapy (she will complete 4 rounds) and 10 days of radiation has been completed to reduce the risk of her femur giving way due to breakdown from the cancer in the weight bearing bone.

Debbie has always been a hardworking mother, employee and mamaw. She had to take leave from her job at the Glebe nursing home community due to the severe side effects and complications with her illness. She is not yet eligible for disabilty, has no current income, poor healthcare coverage and many bills pouring in.

I see these accounts everyday and know it's difficult to donate in our economic times but consider a $1 or $5. Anything would be appreciated and put towards the high medical bills, paying for a second PET scan and for the upcoming COBRA rates for insurance as it will be over 2 years before she will be eligible for Medicare. At the conclusion of this medical nightmare, when Debbie is better and back to work, any remaining balance will be donated to a cancer research center to continue the fight for cancer patients everywhere.

Thank you all and God bless you for your help and the amazing size of your hearts.