In December, my sister Brittany was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer that has spread to her uterus and some surrounding lymph nodes. The tumor is the size of a cantaloupe and cannot be surgically removed right now without cutting the cancer. She started intense radiation, as well as chemotherapy, within a week of being hospitalized. She is currently staying at the American Cancer Society building called Hope Lodge in Omaha. She will remain there until treatments are done in February.

She has an amazing team of doctors there, who have literally been the best since day one. It has been extremely rough for Britt; physically with all the pain, nausea and vomiting; mentally & emotionally with being away from home & her boys for over a month (missed Christmas) and will be at least two months.

One of the rules at the Lodge is that patients must have someone staying with them the whole time. My mom was staying with her, but she fell one morning before going to Britt's treatments and broke both her wrists, shoulder, some ribs and hit her head. She was in the hospital (right next to the Lodge where Britt had been staying), had surgery and is currently doing skilled care at a facility in Omaha. Thankfully, my aunts Cynde and Ang, volunteered to stay with Britt.

Our family has had our fair share of cancer. Our dad passed away in May of 2023 from cancer and our mom was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and just finished her radiation a week before Britt was diagnosed. We also have cancer history on both our mom's and dad's sides of the family. Unfortunately, we are too familiar with cancer. We just can't catch a break.

Quite frankly, I am tired of getting bad news. I am tired of doctors. I am tired of seeing the ones I love go through the pain and suffering. I am tired of our healthcare system failing human lives. I am just tired and I'm not even the one with cancer. I can't imagine what every one of my family members felt when they had cancer.

For anyone who doesn't know my sister, she is a lot like me. We do not like to ask for help. We are the care givers. We are the ones who are first to help; no questions asked. We would give anyone our last dollar if it meant it helped someone. Britt has one of the biggest hearts I know. She is one of Brynleigh's favorite people. I am not sure what she did to deserve any of this and we swore to each other that if we ever had to go through a cancer journey again like we had to with my dad, we'd do things differently. We'd ask for help. We'd speak up. She is young. She is healthy. She is strong. The last thing she needs to worry about is how to afford basic essentials.

We have made it halfway through this treatment, but we are faced with obstacles that we need help with.

She can live at the Lodge for free while undergoing treatments, but she is responsible for food, clothing, personal care items, gas, medicines & vitamins that aren't covered, etc. She cannot drive right now and is not working.

We are kindly asking for anyone and everyone's help by either donating money or gift cards, prepping some meals that I can bring when I visit on weekends or even sending care packages or cards to Britt (getting gifts in the mail makes her happy; even if it's just a coloring book). The building is staffed 24/7, locked & secured doors and packages remain in the office until she picks them up.

If you are not able to do any of the above, please share this with your friends and family and send your prayers her way.

Thank you everyone ❤️

Venmo:

@blroetman6

PayPal:

@blroetman6

Mailing address:

Brittany Roetman

8030 Farnham Dr.

#314

Omaha, NE 68114