Help Maria with Cervical Cancer Medical Expenses

Hey!

My name is Ashley Hourigan, and Maria is my mom. This September, our family got some pretty earth shattering news - Mom has Stage II Cervical Cancer.

Mom has been struggling with back pain and UTI's for a majority of her adult life and in late July of this year, she was experiencing some severe back and pelvic pain that led her to seeing her doctor. Fibroids were discovered on her cervix and so started the marathon of tests and visits to gynocologists and oncologists. By September 10th, Mom was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Her doctors moved quickly and she was scheduled for a full hysterectomy for the following week with chemotherapy to follow soon after.

The surgery went as well as we all could hope for, and after a couple of days in the hospital, mom was able to recuperate at home. Since the surgery, it's been a whirlwind of doctor's visits, testing, and chemo treatments that will continue every three weeks through the beginning of February. Once her chemotherapy treatments are completed, her doctors will decide if she will also need radiation therapy.

Mom has always been the backbone of our family, and continues to be, even through her treatments. We've missed out on a lot of important family events over the last few months and she's kept up a strong, positive mindset through every step of this process. Her faith in recovery is unwavering. I can speak for dad and myself when I say, we could only hope to have as much grace, understanding, and determination as mom has. Her strength through this process, even when I am terrified, is something I will always admire and never forget.

Thankfully, my parents have health insurance to help alleviate costs, but not everything has been covered. They've already faced many out-of-pocket charges, upwards of thousands of dollars, throughout this entire process. Just ONE of her many MRI screenings costs, out-of-pocket, $846.00. She has already had numerous MRIs, CT scans, and x-rays and will continue to need regular screenings.

Mom said something to me once, about 15 years ago that I've always remembered. I asked why she was sending money to help out random relatives that we never see while she and dad had plenty of their own bills to worry about. She said something along the lines of, "If you have the means to help someone in need, do it. Give what you can". I'm not sure it's something she even remembers saying to me, but it's a sentiment that's always stuck with me and I continue to live by.

Mom (and dad) have always been proud people and would never start this fundraiser on their own. I'm starting this GoFundMe so mom can keep her mind and energy focused on recovery instead of worrying about medical bills. I speak for my family when I say, anything is appreciated and we are so thankful and lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives.