Help My Mom Battle Stage 3 Breast Cancer

My name is Melanie Vazquez, and I'm a first-year and first-generation student at the University of Connecticut. A couple of months ago, before my big transition from high school to college, my mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Being told this news was even more overwhelming because my aunt (her sister) had been diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer that progressed quickly and resulted in her passing away just two years before.

My mom is the most selfless, hard-working and brave woman I have ever met. She never fails to light up a room with her contagious smile and corny jokes. Being infused with chemotherapy which was unsuccessful in shrinking her tumor, having a mastectomy surgery and now doing radiation with several surgeries coming up has been a tremendous financial and emotional strain. Even throughout this challenging time, she continues to teach my younger brother and me what a warrior indeed looks like.

I'm asking for help to relieve the financial stress off of my father, who has become the sole provider of the house now that my mother will not be able to work. Her upcoming surgeries will be prominent in stopping the spread of her cancer to other essential body parts since chemotherapy did not work. Any support is greatly appreciated.