My sister is a single mom and a breast cancer survivor. After being diagnosed in November 2020, she faced her battle with incredible courage and strength.
Her journey has been long and difficult:
- December 2020: Minor surgery for port placement, followed by biweekly aggressive chemotherapy, each session lasting 3–5 hours until March 2021.
- April 2021: Underwent a mastectomy after six weeks of recovery from chemo.
- June 2021: Had a bilateral ovary removal, followed by 6–8 weeks of recovery.
- Summer 2021: Completed 25 sessions of intensive radiation therapy.
- To this day, she continues daily oral chemotherapy and hormone suppressants, which she will need for life, and undergoes alternating CT, MRI, and PET scans every six months to monitor her health.
Now, she faces the next step in her healing journey — breast reconstruction surgery — so she can finally feel whole again.
But as many survivors know, breast cancer doesn’t end when treatment does. The physical, emotional, and financial toll continues long after. Medical bills keep adding up, and everyday living expenses don’t stop. Unfortunately, her insurance only partially covers the surgery, and she will need to take time off work to recover.
After being turned away from Stanford, UCSF, and UC Davis because they were out of network, she finally found a dedicated surgeon in Southern California who not only gifted her the consultation, but also fought to get a gap exception so her insurance could partially cover the reconstruction. Her surgery is now scheduled for December 2025.
This means she’ll need to travel and stay in Southern California during recovery, adding more financial strain.
We’re asking for your support to help cover:
- Surgery copays and medical expenses
- Travel, lodging, and meals during recovery
- Living expenses while she’s unable to work
Every dollar truly makes a difference. There’s no such thing as a small donation — anything you give helps ease her burden and brings her one step closer to healing and regaining confidence after everything she’s endured.
Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and for standing with her on this journey of hope and renewal.
Organizer
Araceli Cervantes
Organizer
Corning, CA