Help Judy Barcenas Battle Cancer
Donation protected
The Cause
Hello brothers and sisters,
I am reaching out to you today to ask for your help to raise money for my mom, Judy Barcenas, who is currently battling cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) and is in dire need of your prayers and financial support. Judy is known for her hilarious sense of humor and her smile that can light up a room. Laughter is guaranteed wherever she goes. She has always been there for anyone who needed help and has dedicated her life to serving and helping others. She is the strongest person I have ever known and is one of the most loving people I have ever met. She is the mother of 3 children, grandmother to 8 grandchildren, and has played the role of both parents for us ever since our dad died tragically in a hunting accident 20 years ago. Never one to ask for help, she is in a vulnerable place right now and desperately needs your help.
We are looking to raise money to help cover her medical expenses, in-home nurse care, lost wages, and house payments while she undergoes radiation and chemotherapy treatments. She has already been out of work for 3 months and is expected to miss at least another 7 months to a year. So far she has been in and out of several different hospitals, the ICU, and emergency rooms and due to the tumor's precarious location she is in excruciating pain. She is currently on heavy pain medications and has to use a feeding tube to get her food and water. Right now she is unable to care for herself and has had to postpone her radiation treatments because of the pain and her malnourishment. Her first radiation and chemotherapy treatment sessions are tentatively scheduled for March 26th.
How it Began.
In March 2017 Judy learned she had oral cancer. She underwent surgery at Mayo Clinic for a tongue dissection and removal of a malignant tumor, the size of a walnut, along with 14 lymph nodes in her neck. We thought we were in the clear until December of 2017, when she started having a stabbing pain in her neck and ear. Due to her mother passing away she was unable to get into the doctor right away and by January the pain had become unbearable. The initial MRI showed what looked to be a malignant tumor and a guided biopsy revealed it was squamous cell carcinoma. On February 9th surgeons at Mayo Clinic performed a complicated surgery to remove two inflamed lymph nodes that were wrapped around the sympathetic nerve and carotid artery. Both lymph nodes/masses tested negative for cancer. A follow up CT scan a week later revealed an inoperable malignant tumor at the base of her skull that is believed to have metastasized from the oral cancer; which is extremely rare. This is an aggressive, fast growing tumor and if left untreated would take over her body in less than a year.
Judy's Background
From a young age my mom has always cared for others. She started babysitting at 10 years old and used to give her parents the money she earned to help pay the bills. She has been a foster parent to many at-risk youth and children whose parents were lost due to addictions; because she knew what it was like to grow up in that type of environment. Her compassion and love in caring for people is what led to her returning to school and completing her nursing degree. She has been a nurse for over 30 years, working in nursing homes and hospice care. She comforts and cares for the people that have been forgotten by the world and lovingly cares for them in the final days of their lives. Her life has been incredibly difficult, yet she has always remained positive and found a way to persevere through all of the hardships and continues to inspire hope in everyone she meets.
How you can help
We humbly and graciously ask for your support at this time. Please consider a donation of any amount to help Judy in her time of greatest need. Even if you can’t help financially we ask that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers and will pass along any words of encouragement and hope to her. Thank you for your love and support.
Please share this with your network and help us to spread the word to help us reach our goal. Let us know if you have any questions.
God bless you all. Let’s get #JudyBCancerFree
Hello brothers and sisters,
I am reaching out to you today to ask for your help to raise money for my mom, Judy Barcenas, who is currently battling cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) and is in dire need of your prayers and financial support. Judy is known for her hilarious sense of humor and her smile that can light up a room. Laughter is guaranteed wherever she goes. She has always been there for anyone who needed help and has dedicated her life to serving and helping others. She is the strongest person I have ever known and is one of the most loving people I have ever met. She is the mother of 3 children, grandmother to 8 grandchildren, and has played the role of both parents for us ever since our dad died tragically in a hunting accident 20 years ago. Never one to ask for help, she is in a vulnerable place right now and desperately needs your help.
We are looking to raise money to help cover her medical expenses, in-home nurse care, lost wages, and house payments while she undergoes radiation and chemotherapy treatments. She has already been out of work for 3 months and is expected to miss at least another 7 months to a year. So far she has been in and out of several different hospitals, the ICU, and emergency rooms and due to the tumor's precarious location she is in excruciating pain. She is currently on heavy pain medications and has to use a feeding tube to get her food and water. Right now she is unable to care for herself and has had to postpone her radiation treatments because of the pain and her malnourishment. Her first radiation and chemotherapy treatment sessions are tentatively scheduled for March 26th.
How it Began.
In March 2017 Judy learned she had oral cancer. She underwent surgery at Mayo Clinic for a tongue dissection and removal of a malignant tumor, the size of a walnut, along with 14 lymph nodes in her neck. We thought we were in the clear until December of 2017, when she started having a stabbing pain in her neck and ear. Due to her mother passing away she was unable to get into the doctor right away and by January the pain had become unbearable. The initial MRI showed what looked to be a malignant tumor and a guided biopsy revealed it was squamous cell carcinoma. On February 9th surgeons at Mayo Clinic performed a complicated surgery to remove two inflamed lymph nodes that were wrapped around the sympathetic nerve and carotid artery. Both lymph nodes/masses tested negative for cancer. A follow up CT scan a week later revealed an inoperable malignant tumor at the base of her skull that is believed to have metastasized from the oral cancer; which is extremely rare. This is an aggressive, fast growing tumor and if left untreated would take over her body in less than a year.
Judy's Background
From a young age my mom has always cared for others. She started babysitting at 10 years old and used to give her parents the money she earned to help pay the bills. She has been a foster parent to many at-risk youth and children whose parents were lost due to addictions; because she knew what it was like to grow up in that type of environment. Her compassion and love in caring for people is what led to her returning to school and completing her nursing degree. She has been a nurse for over 30 years, working in nursing homes and hospice care. She comforts and cares for the people that have been forgotten by the world and lovingly cares for them in the final days of their lives. Her life has been incredibly difficult, yet she has always remained positive and found a way to persevere through all of the hardships and continues to inspire hope in everyone she meets.
How you can help
We humbly and graciously ask for your support at this time. Please consider a donation of any amount to help Judy in her time of greatest need. Even if you can’t help financially we ask that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers and will pass along any words of encouragement and hope to her. Thank you for your love and support.
Please share this with your network and help us to spread the word to help us reach our goal. Let us know if you have any questions.
God bless you all. Let’s get #JudyBCancerFree
Organizer
Brian L Barcenas
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
