Help Barb our Super Survivor

My name is Michelle Lee and I want to tell you about my best friend and colleague.  She is the sister that I’ve always wanted and by far the most courageous person I have ever met. Her name is Barbara Reynolds.   In 1958, Barb was born in East Chicago, IN and grew up in Springfield, IL where she still resides.  Barb is an only child born to loving parents who are now both deceased.  Eighteen years ago in October of 1997, Barb was diagnosed with breast cancer.  At that time the youngest of her three children was only four years old.  Barb was terrified that the diagnosis was going to be fatal because she had lost her mother to breast cancer just eight years earlier.  Both her mother and grandmother lost their lives to metastasized breast cancer.  Barb decided she needed to fight in order to survive for her three young children Ashley, Amy and Nick.  She underwent surgery and treatments all while continuing her work as a Speech-Language Pathologist for Springfield School District.  She won the fight, but was not able to gain “cancer-free” status because the cancer returned before the 5-year mark.  Heartbreaking news came again in April of 2002.   Barb received her 2nd cancer diagnosis.  Doctors informed her that it was breast cancer again, but a completely different kind.  She fought the fight again and won!  This time she made the 5-year mark and thought she was in the clear.   In the fall of 2013, Barb felt another lump forming in her chest wall.   By October 2013 a cat scan confirmed the devastating news. Cancer. Again!  This was Barb’s 3rd primary cancer diagnosis.  At this time, Barb tested positive for Braca 2 and elected to undergo a double mastectomy.  She had many complications during her multiple surgeries.  That winter and into spring, she suffered a staph infection that nearly took her life.  But not this girl!   Barb, aka “Super Survivor” fought on and won.  In 2013 through 2014, this amazing woman survived 5 surgeries!  When she was well enough, she even continued to go to work between surgeries and treatments.  Not long after, in April 2015, Barb received devastating news of her 4th diagnosis—Stage IV Breast Cancer.  Stage IV means that the breast cancer had metastasized to her bones.  Scans showed cancer up and down Barb’s spine as well as in her hips, legs and shoulders.  Due to the cancer eating through her bones, she required an immediate full, radical hip replacement in May 2015.  She fought hard to walk again and now she relies on a walker and wheelchair to get around.  Because of Barb’s declining health, she was forced into early retirement from Springfield District 186 where she served as a well-loved Speech-Language Pathologist for more than 20 years.  Her students refer to her fondly as “Speech Barb” and they miss her terribly.   She is also a dedicated and loving single mom to three adult children and a grandmother to a granddaughter born in March 2015.  Barb is an incredibly kind and generous individual.  Funds are needed immediately for Barb to continue to travel from Springfield to Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion, IL.  She is faced with astronomical medical bills and related expenses.   Barb just underwent yet another surgery on October 14th to separate her spinal vertebrae that were compressed causing her excruciating pain.  Her hope is to feel well enough to take a trip to put her “toes in the sand.”  I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read about my dear friend and her courageous struggle to beat cancer. Please help to alleviate some of her financial burden. That is my goal and the goal of her family and friends who are lovingly known as TEAM BARB.  Thank you for helping this amazing woman get the treatment and recovery she so deserves.