Help Sandra Heal: Colon and Breast Cancer Fight

Dear Angels,

Okay, here we go….

6 weeks before my 60th birthday, I received a double cancer diagnosis. Needless to say, my whole world instantly changed. As a nurse, I can wrap my head around the treatment plans and prognosis. What I’m finding most challenging is publicly sharing this information and openly asking for help.

As someone who has dedicated over 33 years of my life to being a nurse, I’m an expert caregiver. If you are my patient, I will tirelessly show up for you. I won’t hesitate to use my voice to advocate for what you deserve or gently offer education and empathy to you and your family.

As a nurse, a mother of three, and grandmother of three, I’ve had the sincere privilege of being in the front row to some of the most challenging and intimate moments a person and family can go through. Time and time again, I have witnessed this simple truth: We cannot heal without the help of others. No one can. Not even me. Wow. That’s hard to say out loud.

As I take a deep breath, I humbly ask for your help. I have a team of expert doctors and healers that have offered me a thorough treatment plan for both my colon and breast cancer that will require multiple surgeries as well as chemo and radiation. Due to the complexities of my double diagnosis, my team anticipates my treatment will take at least a year, which will require me to take an intermittent/continuous leave of absence from work.

I’m well aware the road ahead will not be easy. I have full confidence in my team and my body's ability to heal. I believe this diagnosis is an opportunity for me to heal from more than just cancer. It’s long overdue for me to shift roles and allow myself to receive from you, my army of angels.

I thank you for your love and support as we battle this disease together.

Love,

Sparkling Sandra!