Hi, my name is Michelle Simpson. I am a classroom teacher from Jamaica, and I never imagined I would be sharing this, but I have been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.
At first, I was told it was nothing, so I went on with my life. But the small lump under my left arm kept growing, and my health kept declining. I sought help because I knew something was wrong, but it was dismissed as dengue. I kept pushing until I was finally taken seriously, admitted to the hospital, and later on given answers I never expected.
Right now, I am back in the hospital because the swelling has increased again and needs to be drained. I am being treated with antibiotics, and a swab test done on Saturday confirmed two new infections. I am in a lot of pain, and with my immune system already compromised, this places me at higher risk for complications. I am sharing this from the hospital bed because I truly need help to begin treatment. Failure to begin treatment now puts me at risk of the cancer progressing further and my health worsening.
The open wounds under my left arm aren't healing. They leak fluid daily, and I have to keep them covered and cleaned with constant bandage changes. With my immune system weakened, open wounds leave me vulnerable to infections, and I am doing everything I can to prevent this from getting worse.
I am also a mother. My son was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder in September 2023. I have always been his protector and his safe place. Right now, my biggest fear is not being strong enough to keep showing up for him the way he needs me to and the risk of leaving him without his mother.
I am not giving up. The next step for me is immunotherapy in Jamaica under medical supervision. It is a treatment that helps the immune system target cancer cells. After that, I plan to travel to a wellness center in Alabama, USA for supportive, integrative care focused on immune support, and recovery. I learned about this option through a Hodgkin Lymphoma survivor who went there as part of her own recovery journey. Hearing that it helped her gave me something I had not felt in a long time, real hope and a direction forward.
I need help now to keep moving forward. Between treatment, wound care supplies, and the cost of travel and care, the financial burden has become more than I can carry alone. Even a small donation helps cover antibiotics, wound care supplies, and the costs tied to ongoing treatment.
Your donation will help cover immunotherapy, wound care supplies and hygienic needs, travel to Alabama, program costs, required medical evaluations, basic living expenses during treatment, and follow up labs and medical support as recommended.
I have also created an Amazon list with medical supplies and essentials that I need day to day as I manage these wounds and continue treatment, both in the hospital and at home. Items from this list help immediately and relieve daily medical costs.
I will continue to update this page as my treatment progresses. I will also share photos of the lump and wounds for transparency (with trigger warnings). Please note, the images may be difficult to see. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me take the next step.
With gratitude,
Michelle Simpson
Amazon registry (medical supplies & essentials):