Help Marji pay her Medical bills

Hi my name is Marji.

Thank you for helping someone you don't know.  Simply put:  I'm a mother of two wonderful boys and I am also a teacher helping incarcerated individuals get their GED or high school diploma.

In March 2018, I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors thought it was just the one tumor after looking at the PET scan. A year later, after undergoing a massive transformation in health, that tumor was gone but unfortunately, another one was growing. It was an Ovarian cyst and, upon removal and testing, was found to be cancerous. The surgeon saw cancer on my uterus and other ovary but decided not to remove at that time because I had a Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in my lungs). I was devastated. Through genetic testing, I was found to have Lynch Syndrome which is an increased possibility of certain types of cancer. After a few months went by, a new tumor appeared in my lymph nodes near the main artery by my spine, and I decided to treat the cancer with a full hysterectomy and chemotherapy. It was such an emotional decision because I wanted so much to have another child and it was so difficult to give up on that dream. I still cry every time medical professionals ask if I could be pregnant when receiving a CT scan or undergoing other medical procedures.

 

After 6 rounds of chemo and a hysterectomy, the doctor was unable to remove the tumor near my spine because it was sticking to the intra vena cava which is the main artery providing blood to the lower half of my body. I had really wanted to avoid radiation but it was the only choice available to me. I did six weeks of radiation and a few months later, a CT scan showed no growth. The doctors were optimistic. However, a few months later in the winter of 2021, I became seriously ill. I went down to under 100 pounds, I lost my appetite, and became so fatigued I couldn't do anything. It was especially hard on my 4-year-old who was seeing me essentially dying. I prayed and prayed throughout this whole experience that my life would be preserved to serve my family, community, and God. Praise God that I was quickly able to begin a new immunotherapy drug called Keytruda.  The road to recovery after this specific illness has been all consuming.  I was so emaciated that it took over 6 months to begin feeling normal and gain back weight and energy.  Great news came late last year.  The last CT scan showed the tumors are decreasing in size in my liver and staying the same in my lymph nodes!  The immunotherapy is working!!  Praise God!!

 

As a result of having cancer, I have missed out on many months of work throughout the last few years and, being the sole breadwinner, it has caused a lot of financial strain.   We depended on credit cards during many months when I could not work and the sick leave was all used up.   We also took out a second mortgage.  As a result, I have developed about $30,000+ in debt due to this illness. We still owe over $15,000 in medical bills from the past few years to the hospital and cancer clinic which will be added onto this new year as I continue the immunotherapy treatment.   The cost of paying for these debts is straining our budget and we have fallen behind on some of the debts.  We are behind in paying PGE (electricity bill) and my medical bills as well.  Any help, you can give to help us would be so amazing! Thank you and God bless you!

 

 

*The video was taken when I was very ill last year because my mom wanted to have a video of me singing. It is some of my favorite hymns and a few songs I've written. I hope it blesses you!