Hello everyone! Thank you for taking the time to read my story about how I have to beat cancer again while in a crummy job market (cause obviously the restraining order against her the first time only kept her at bay for a while :)

My name is Athena, and about a year and a half ago, I was planning my wedding, having just returned from a trip to Disneyland, where I was chasing down Chewbacca for a selfie. I noticed it was taking me longer than usual to return to my regular energy levels, so I went to my doctor to ask if my thyroid hormone levels might need adjustment. Come to find out, I had tumors again, which later turned out to be a return of the thyroid cancer I originally had in 2017.

Only 20% of cancer survivors get their thyroid cancer back, especially after doing extensive surgery and radiation as I did, but you know your girl over here is an overachiever. As I've gone back and forth and had treatment for the past year, my doctor is suggesting another extensive neck surgery as it's now attacking my vocal cords. The quality of my life has deteriorated significantly already, and now my voice is going in and out due to the pressure of the tumor, which is why I need to have it removed before it spreads further and takes my voice with it. I will need speech therapy now because my voice is forever changed.

What's worse is that I'm having an even harder time affording all of my co-pays and medications during a time when the job market is not kind to writers. The last project I secured ended in March, and I haven't been able to land another one since then. Every week, I see more and more of my peers being let go, which means the market gets rougher and rougher. I do side gigs as my cancer treatment allows me, but it's enough to pay the bills and make progress on my illness. My partner has been helping as much as he can financially, but with rising living costs, he is also struggling to cover the majority of our living expenses. We also have excellent health insurance, but medical costs continue to rise.

Any amount of this fundraiser will be used towards my upcoming surgery, medical tests, including CT scans, and other medical supplies such as prescriptions needed to treat me at home during my recovery as well as occasional living expenses if allowed. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me. Hopefully, the photo of me and my cat paid the cat tax. :)