Help Barb beat cancer!
Hello all,
My name is Tiffany Anderson, I am 23 years old and I am writing on behalf of my mother, Barb Gosbee, a 55 year old woman who is currently undergoing treatment for skin cancer in Moncton NB. The past seven months have proven extremely difficult for my family, as they are not only having to deal with the stress of the situation, but also financial hardship. For this, I'll start from the beginning. 
In July 2017, the day after my boyfriend and I headed back to Germany from vacation, my mother was on her way back from work early on a Tuesday morning. As Barb went to cross the road in her complete Tim Hortons uniform she was hit by a negligent driver who didn't see her before turning. Barb was thrown to the ground, in complete shock, and the ambulance was called for assistance. The crash caused my mother to be completely covered in bruises from the waist down, and caused a spot to form on her spleen which will later result in further operations and medical complications. Unfortunately, because my mother has not had her own family doctor for over 20 years, as is it extremely difficult to find one in New Brunswick, she was unable to file a claim against the driver at fault. This meant she was out of work due to the accident, and out of money. My mother has since received no compensation for the accident, and has been struggling with the even worse news that followed.
In between going to low budget physio and doctor consultations, Barb tried to recover from the pain and shock of being hit by a car. It was then that my mothers life began to turn upside down. In August the hospital called in great concern about a lump that was found on my mothers left leg. After day surgery was completed, and weeks of waiting went by, my mom got the gut wrenching news: she was diagnosed with stage 4 skin cancer.
Once I received the news in late September I flew directly from Cologne, Germany to my parents home in Moncton. My parents never had a lot of money, but with my mom starting to be out of work for more tests and surgeries, funds were running extremely thin. I tried to do everything I fiscally could, but after a month I could no longer afford to stay in Canada. My parents have since been scraping by on one income and the assistance of unemployment insurance. However, my mother's insurance is now about to run out in the second week of January, and they need further help.
The doctors were extremely optomistic, as my mother's initial tests didn't show signs of the cancer spreading throughout the organs. This had my mother going into her fist round of surgery scared, but with high hopes. Barb fully believed that after she was done with recovery, and her spleen was removed, she would be able to get back to work and live normal again. However, after the doctors performed the surgery, they found that the cancer had in fact spread throughout her leg and into the surrounding lymph nodes.
Barb will now have her first consultation for chemo therapy on the 8th of January, an appointment for radiation on the 10th, and go for a more invasive surgery on the 15th. Though my family is trying to remain optomistic, they are still extremely scared about what is next to come.
On top of the stress both of my parents are under, they are now struggling more than ever to make ends meet. My mother will lose her unemployment benefits mid January, and she was told they could not be renewed. Though she is able to file a claim for disability, payments will not come through for a couple of months, IF she qualifies. Because of this my parents need help!
It is unlike my parents to seek help unless truly needed, as they are both hardworking, independent people. However, they are currently struggling to pay bills, buy groceries, and afford car payments and gas to transport my mom to appointments. With the stress that both of my parents are under, it would be greatly appreciated if they did not have to deal with financial hardship as well. With this, I am humbly asking the internet community to come together to help my parents get through this extremely stressful and scary time.
Please, help bring my mother some peace of mind in her time of need, and bring the loving smile back to her face. Every donation counts, and we would greatly appreciate any form of assistance. My parents mean the world to me, and unfortunately this is all I can do to help at the moment. Thank you all in advance, and please keep my mother in your hearts for a safe recovery. ❤
