From: Fabiola Gomes

Dear friends,

Today, I come here to ask for your help. I’m fighting for my life.

Until now, I have used social networks to share cheerful, light moments, to encourage people to have a healthier diet, a more fit life and consequently, happier.

I have taken great care of myself. I’m vegan, care deeply about what goes into my body, very physically active with dancing, exercise and traveling. I also used much of my life taking care of animals and people in need, from volunteering with children, the blind, animal rescue and more. For me, living like this has always been very natural and did me a lot of good.

But now I’m in great need myself.

Just over a week ago I discovered that I have a rare pancreatic cancer that is advanced in size. This type of cancer is so unusual that doctors were unable to enter into a consensus to establish what kind of treatment can be done to take it out or treat it.

The hope is that extraction surgery can be performed. But this is still uncertain, because it is not just any surgeon who is able to do so and also because he finds himself in a risky place.

As you might be if it happened to you, I am still in shock and as you can imagine, I’m very scared.

My way of making money and supporting myself has always required me to be physically present and active. As a dance instructor and personal trainer, I need to be healthy to work.

With this cancer, I cannot do any of the work I’ve been doing.

Apart from the monthly rent and utilities, I will now have immense expenses with medicines, surgeries and treatments.

The fight will be long and hard. It could be months, it could be years (with your help, I’m praying for years). All I know is that I will have to fight bravely against this cancer and that's why I really need your love and help. I hope everything will work out!

I live alone with only my 3 dogs. My entire family is in Brazil, so I will face this battle alone most of the time (with the help of friends and my boyfriend, who has been an angel in my life. I’m eternally grateful for him).

That's why I'm asking you for your help today. Help to fight this battle that I’m just starting.

I’m in pain, I’m weak, nauseous everyday, confused mentally and have both insomnia and anxiety.

Little by little I know that things will get on track again, but for now it's all very confusing.

The only clarity I have is that I’m going to fight and that I can’t do it alone.

Any support you can find in your heart to give me during this battle is appreciated beyond words.