Help Shelsa beat ESRD!

Aloha Family and Friends,

 

It is with a humble heart and hopeful prayers that I write this today. I'm used to being strong and figuring things out on my own, but God had different plans for me, and I'm doing my best to walk in his path. For those who don't know all the details, this particular health journey started in 2019 when I was diagnosed with stage 3 invasive duct carcinoma of the right breast, just a few months after my beloved sister left this realm. I was mourning the loss of my beautiful sister but was determined to beat the enemy called cancer back, and with the help of my husband Tay and family, was able to pull through. After going through a Bilateral mastectomy, I became a cancer survivor!

 

I am a survivor. However, I also tested positive for the BRCA2 gene, the primary gene that causes cervical and ovarian cancer. Due to this, my doctors felt it best to take preventative measures and in July of 2020, I underwent a complete hysterectomy to prevent the possibility of cancer returning. This was a huge decision for me and I live with the fact that I will never bare children but as I said, God had a plan and I put it in his hands.

 

I was still healing from the physical and emotional blow of the last two years, but in 2021, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, a side effect of the chemotherapy. Later that same year, I was also diagnosed with CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) stages 4 then 5, another side effect of the chemotherapy. So it seems, what saved me was now killing me.

 

In February of this year, I was diagnosed with ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease) and was put on Dialysis 3x weekly. Since then, I have been hospitalized twice, spending weeks at Hilo hospital.

 

Of course, with all the medical issues I've been dealing with for almost four years, I was not able to continue to work and the bills just kept piling up. We all have our hard times and go through financial struggles and the last thing I want to do is ask for help when I know we're all struggling. I've been trying to find another way to get through this debt, even over time, but it's at an overwhelming amount and has pushed me to reach out to all of you and humbly ask for any donation you can give.

 

In all honestly, the bills alone are almost at $200k and keep climbing, BUT I COULD NOT see myself asking for that amount from anyone! Every little bit counts and I will get through this because I AM A SURVIVOR. Even if you can't donate, please send prayers, they lift me up and hold me when I'm feeling low and overwhelmed.

 

I love you all.

 

Mahalo nui,

 

Shelsa "ChaCha" Bush