Help our mother recover from chemo and radiation

Hello! The photo is our mother and her 'souvenir':  the radiation apparatus she wore daily-

 

My name is Joey Shearer, my family and I have started this fund raiser for my mother Sandra Todd who has just finished 6 weeks of chemo and radiation for Squamous Cell Carcinoma in her (throat) lymph node and tonsil. She is 76 years old and (out of necessity) was still working full time up until the week before she began her treatments. She had planned to continue to work during treatments but many people in her office and in Indiana aren't getting vaccinated so the doctors said it would not be safe. Also, we soon discovered that due to cancer being in her throat she needed a feeding tube- the first surgeon incorrectly placed the tube and she was unable to eat much for 2 weeks. She was having to take crushed meds orally with applesauce. A third surgery was a success and she has been able to take protein shakes through the feeding tube. She is able to go to Marie Canine Cancer Center and get hydration a couple times a week.  (the first surgery was for the chemo port)

Mom was very independent prior to her illness but it has proved tougher than any of us thought. She has been so positive and such a trooper through all of the miserable effects.  But she is very weak from the treatments and the loss of 50 lbs in this short time frame. At this point she can still barely talk and swallow as there are ulcers on her esophagus and throat and she keeps getting Thrush, a common side effect of the cancer treatments.

Thankfully her prognosis is good, due to early detection and she is feeling a little stronger everyday.
However, she has gone through her PTO and her personal savings. We have been pitching in where we can but we're realizing as medical bills come in and monthly expenses mount, until she can return to work, she's going to need some help.

 

Our sister Peggy lives near her has been a complete Goddess send! From living with her 24/7, driving her to all of her appointments near AND far, administering all of her medication and food through the feeding tube to doing laundry, shopping, taking care of moms dog and everyday chores- plus! But she will need to go home to her family eventually.  We have gotten a Life Alert for times that she will be alone.

We are starting with a modest amount to give her peace of mind through the next few months of recovery.....

If you've read this far Thank You! We so appreciate your interest and your prayers- $20 is perfect-EVERY little bit will help.