My name is Nikki Turner, and my sister Michelle Hobson and I are writing on behalf of our extraordinary mom, Phyllis Turner. Her loved ones fondly call her PJT (Jean is her middle name). The awful moment on July 10, 2022, when we heard the words “your mom has a rare case of stage 3 ovarian cancer,” changed our lives 180 degrees. Like so many before us, our small, tight-knit family was shell-shocked. Mom was admitted to Hoag's oncology ward, and a new, scary version of our lives began.

Interestingly, Hoag Hospital is PJT’s home away from home. On August 3, 1970, mom was hired as a registered nurse at Hoag. She started in ICU & CCU, finishing the last 33 years of her 43-year career in Hoag’s ER. At nearly 80 years young, mom still has her nursing license and is actively part of Hoag’s Faith Community Parish Nursing program. She is the parish nurse at her church, St. Wilfrid’s of York. During our childhood, mom had to routinely work holidays, so the hospital is where our family spent Thanksgiving & Christmas meals in the basement cafeteria. My sister and I thought it was normal to spend holidays at the hospital. All these years later, Hoag is now her lifeline.

We have never known anyone, ever, who loves life more than our mom. Even after setting her alarm for 4:45 am daily, she complains that there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done that she wants to accomplish. The day after she retired from Hoag on Halloween 2012, she signed up with the Huntington Beach Police Department’s senior volunteer RSVP program. That was a natural move since she's volunteered for countless organizations and causes over the past 50 years. Until a few months ago, mom played tennis a couple of times a week; she passioned lawn bowling at her club in Newport Beach, routinely played bridge and Mah Jongg, and was constantly on the go, spreading happiness everywhere she went.

Her heart is bursting with unconditional love, and she purposely seeks opportunities to better other people’s lives. That may come in the form of supportive cards, an empathetic ear listening when someone is in need, or finding resources to assist when problems arise. PJT is revered as a treasured friend to countless people. To our family, she is our everything, our matriarch, our rock, our role model. The worst moment of my life was just after hearing her diagnosis. Mom’s lips were quivering, tears filled her eyes, and she gasped, “I don’t want to die. I want to live. I have so much more life in me.”

Even in the face of all this adversity, mom continues to anchor her belief in faith, focus her attention on gratitude for all she has, and is determined to live every day to the fullest. This is all done with a big genuine smile on her face. She is a true inspiration and always has been. As we were told early on, this cancer journey will be a rollercoaster ride. Nothing could be truer. After enduring three rounds of chemotherapy, all the tests, images, and indicators showed that she was a prime candidate for a successful surgery to remove all the cancer. Sadly, on September 23rd, we were again shocked to our core when her surgeon had to abort surgery due to an unforeseen spread of the invasive cancer. PJT is famously known for saying, “When plan A doesn’t work, there is always plan B, C, and D if need be.” We are now onto plan B and waiting with hopefulness for miracles to come.

In the meantime, bills are pouring in, and the debt is piling up. Sadly, financial reserves are limited, especially amidst the current recession, which has depleted much of her retirement safety net. She has been widowed for nine years and lives on a fixed income. Since mom requires 24-hour care, I am currently not working as I am mom’s primary caregiver. Michelle & I are humbly requesting financial support for our beloved mom, Phyllis Turner. She is so deserving of any help you can offer. Every dollar makes a difference and is greatly appreciated. By minimizing money-related stress, mom can focus solely on positive outcomes, a pathway to a full recovery, and maintaining an open heart filled with love & gratitude!! Thank you in advance for your invaluable support.