Help for my Dad & Step Mom: Terminal Brain Cancer

Anyone who knows me understands how difficult it is for me to discuss this - I’m not a big sharer on social media of the struggles I face in my personal life.

 

My family and I received some devastating news this December about my step mom, Theresa. Over the past 4 years, she has been battling various types of cancer - what originally started with a tiny lump in her breast, metastasized to her bones, liver, and her brain. I have seen her undergo years of treatment that has completely wrecked her body, mobility, and most of her cognitive skills. It has been so hard to watch someone I love so dearly have everything taken from them by such a terrible disease. She has remained strong all this time by going to work, and trying to keep a normal life as much possible between treatments and all the sicknesses they’ve caused.

 

Up until the fall of 2021, she and my dad were still working to provide for themselves - it then became apparent after the targeted treatment on her brain, she would not be able to work or really take care of herself. Therefore, my dad left his job to be her sole caregiver.

 

In December, we received the news that Theresa’s brain cancer was now terminal and the treatments were not improving her 3 tumors. They gave us a few weeks to a few months left to be with her.

 

With all this being said, the last thing we want to focus on are the finances. However, that has been a sad and huge reality over this past year. The medical bills have been astronomical and without any income coming to the house, they are in serious jeopardy of having to sell necessities just to survive day to day. We have made do where we can, but have exhausted all the options including social services (literally no help at all), and applying for grants through cancer centers.

 

Theresa has been THE best friend to me for 23 years. There are few people you meet in this life that impact you the way she has me. God knew what he was doing when he placed us on the same path and I am forever grateful he did.

 

If you are able to support in any way, my family and I would greatly appreciate it.