Help Kristin Kick Cancer's Ass!

My name is Heidie, and I have a sweet friend, Kristin. Her world was turned upside down when she found out she had Breast Cancer on August 14, 2019. She and I go back a few years. We grew up at opposite ends of the same street in a small town in New Jersey. She's a single Mom of 3 children and works at an Elementary School. While Kristin loves her job, she's physically unable to work longer hours due to her chronic pain from the treatments and surgeries needed to survive. Due to a significant life change, Kristin was without medical insurance for the beginning of her treatments. Two months after her diagnosis, Kristin found out her cancer had metastasized. Her medical bills are accruing quickly. I hope you'll feel inspired to help my friend with her journey. Her goal is to be around to become a Grammy.

So far, Kristin's treatments have included:

*Six months of chemotherapy. Kristin had bloodwork every Monday to ensure she was strong enough for her hours-long infusion every Wednesday. The side effects would start two days later, which resulted in nausea, vomiting, loss of taste, and insomnia, to name a few. There were a few medication changes due to the effects on her body. Chemotherapy also caused Kristin to have medically induced menopause.

*Kristin is also on medication for depression.

*Thirty-three rounds of daily radiation treatments, Monday through Friday. Due to Covid, she had to go alone after working at her job.

*Five surgeries, including a DIEP Flap Reconstruction, a 12-hour procedure.

*Physical Therapy to regain range of motion in her right arm.

*Kristin will need to wear a compression sleeve to prevent lymphedema, a lifelong threat.

*Medications she will be on for several more years.

*Soon, Kristin will have a sixth surgery to remove another recently detected mass.

Here are some words from Kristin:

"I searched for a picture that would really explain cancer. There is no pretty, "but you don't look sick" days, no pink/yellow/ green/blue ribbon, no celebration, no "I'll beat cancer". No easy cancer in this photo. There is fear in both the person that has cancer and the people who love her unconditionally. There is pain, debilitating pain that no pill can cure. Wondering if you will wake up, caring if you do or don't. Wanting to give up while the people around want you to fight. There is no pretty version of cancer. The landscape of your body is forever changed... that is something no one sees. The anxiety, the PTSD that you never saw coming. There is nothing but ugliness, pain and fear. More fear than you ever thought possible. Fear that you have forever been changed... it is something no one sees. There is nothing but ugliness, pain and fear. More fear than those who love you thought.

So on "world cancer day" know this... those of us living with/ through/died from cancer need more than a day, a month or a post. We need a f*cking cure, so how about some research to stop cancer from spreading?

I have wondered the point of this day. For the world to see cancer? For the world to understand what we go through? For the world to see the damage? I don't have an answer but I can tell you the only ones I see acknowledging the day are those with cancer! All we are doing is preaching to the choir."

Kristin is a lovely and caring person. She will do nearly anything she can to help another friend in need. These last two and a half years have been incredibly hard for her due to the simple fact that she is extremely humble and hates to ask for help. Her friends have rallied around her and forced her to accept their generosity. Kristin continues to need support due to this lengthy illness. Please consider offering assistance to my friend. Let's help her conquer this beast and become a Grammy.