Help Amber Regain What Cancer Stole

In 2012, my niece, Amber Moon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right knee. You know, the Terry Fox kind. This came on the heels of her finishing a post-secondary degree and starting a job working with at-risk youth. She had barely begun the job when she was thrown into the world of cancer. Quickly her surgeon got her into surgery but instead of a few days in hospital, she spent three months, almost dying three times. Amber was left with a post-op disability which required a full leg brace and crutches to get around.  

Amber in 2012 after first diagnosis & surgery

This was Amber’s new life -- one which changes the trajectory of a person’s hopes and dreams. For the next five years Amber worked extremely hard to improve her mobility and leg, which was mangled and full of scars from the reconstructions. She also struggled with the next steps to support herself, taking some small courses and researching other larger programs. Eventually Amber decided to study Art Therapy. She took a massive leap, giving up the apartment that she had made into a home she could feel safe in, and moved with her beloved kitty (who then got killed by a cougar) across the country to this program. While there, Amber’s brilliance was seen. She is an incredibly compassionate, intuitively gifted person who could be such a help to others. 

Amber in 2018 

Well, this is where the story gets hard again. After a year in the program, Amber was re-diagnosed: same location, same disease, only this time far more aggressive. This time, on June 21, 2018, Amber had to have her leg amputated well above the knee. All the work on her leg, along with making it to the five-year-cancer-free mark, came to a screeching halt.

Now, as we await the next appointments with the oncologist and follow-up diagnostics to make sure the cancer isn’t in her lungs or anywhere else, Amber is incurring expenses to live. She needs to eat well, preferably organic or as clean as possible. Amber is also working with a Naturopath and other complementary health providers that are costly but keeping her strong. We want her strong going into chemotherapy if that’s what is next. 

Amber loves kitties.

There are always so many unknowns with cancer. But we know what Amber has lost so far. She is grieving the loss of her leg a second time, unable to work or return to school in the fall. So some mental health sessions would be great, because her life is worth living and she doesn’t always think that. Amber is also suffering with phantom limb pain (PLP) and there are specific therapies that are needed for that, not covered by medical. There are appointments in town and that takes gas and of course equipment and supportive devices. Amber does not have private insurance and we are a small family struggling, so any help from beautiful people like yourselves would be so much appreciated. There is an immediate need. We will keep you updated. Thank you. 

Love from, Auntie Michele