Help Amanda - Fighting Cancer, Stroke and Poverty at 62

Hi, my name is Jasper Savage and I am fundraising for my friend Amanda - someone I met four years ago while walking my dog in Toronto. She smiled so kindly at him (how could you not?), and when our eyes met, I was struck by her warmth - and sadness behind it.

What I didn’t know then was how much Amanda was fighting behind that smile. And now, she’s fighting harder than ever; for her health, her home, and her life.

Amanda’s Story:

Amanda lost her job during COVID and spent all her savings trying to stay afloat. After 45 years of working, at age 62, she was applying for jobs every day - online, in person - and getting nowhere. She believes it’s due to age discrimination.

After 18 months of non-stop effort, she finally landed a part-time job. But in January, she was hospitalized with pneumonia.

Then in March, Amanda collapsed at home and woke up **three weeks later** in a hospital bed - with a gash in her throat from emergency intubation. She’d gone into respiratory failure again. A week after waking, she suffered a **stroke**. Despite showing clear symptoms, the hospital delayed scanning her brain - by the time they did, the stroke had caused even more damage. She lost the use of her dominant side.

While preparing to transfer her to rehab, doctors found **nodules in her lungs**. A CT scan showed her cervix had been replaced by a tumor. A biopsy confirmed it was **cancer**, and an MRI revealed the worst: **Stage 4**, with metastasis to her **lymph nodes and pelvic bone**.

### Why Amanda Needs Help

Despite all this, Amanda is showing incredible resilience. She’s learning to stand and walk again using a walker. She is determined to heal. She will be doing 5 rounds of beam radiation and her time at the rehab will end on July 14, when she will have to go home and reality starts.

She’s terrified of becoming unhoused, of losing her cat Maggie, of not being able to feed herself all while battling advanced cancer and recovering from a stroke.

Amanda receives **\$733/month** in government assistance (Ontario Works). That barely covers rent, let alone food, transit, or medications. She’s applied for disability support (ODSP), but approval takes time and the government takes more time.

### Your Donation Will Help Cover:

*Rent & utilities

*Groceries and basic necessities

*Transit to medical appointments

*Home Care

* Medical supplies and rehab equipment

* Pet care for her cat Maggie during recovery

*Making her Apartment cozy and comfortable (fresh paint, new sofa)

### Every Dollar Helps

Amanda is one of the kindest, most quietly strong people I’ve met — and life has dealt her far too many unfair hands. If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you can’t, please **share her story**. It might reach someone who can!

She shouldn’t have to fight for her life **and** her survival at the same time. Let’s give her a little bit of peace, stability, and hope :)

Thank you ❤️