CANCER SUCKS

Humans are rarely able to unanimously agree on anything. But I bet there is something we can ALL agree on…
CANCER. SUCKS.
For my aunt, uncle, and cousin- it REALLY sucks. It has reared its ugly head into their family and does not seem to want to leave- no matter how hard it is fought against. If you can’t afford to donate- I get it. I really do. I also understand there are TONS of
other wonderful people and organizations to donate to (I struggle myself with deciding who the heck to help out- it can be overwhelming). With that being said, please just read this story and share- if you can also donate, then awesome- you rock. But if you can’t- you still rock! Seriously, you do. Thank you for even opening this link and reading this far when you probably have tens of thousands of other things to do. THANK YOU.


So back to why cancer sucks…BIG TIME.  

 
Cancer has always sucked. However, twelve years ago is when my family really started
to see HOW MUCH it sucks.

 
Twelve years ago, my uncle Dave Ulm was diagnosed with leukemia. He fought really hard and came a long way. But as cancer likes to do- it unwelcomingly returned. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with carcinoma lung cancer. The doctors did more chemo and tried to cut the cancer out but could not get all of it- due to location. He is now maintaining and continues chemo and takes meds for his low white blood cell count. He is only able to do chemo for one hour a week. The cancer has now progressed to his bones. My aunt Debbie Ulm, his loving and caring wife, has been taking care of him ever since the original diagnosis. Although my uncle kept working (on his good days, at least), my aunt brought home most of their income. She’s basically a patient saint. Love my uncle- but I never said he is easy to deal with ;) (sorry uncle Dave)

Here’s the real kicker. In January, my aunt (the saint) started coughing up blood out of nowhere. She went to the ER and found out she has small cell carcinoma. No cancer is good… but small cell carcinoma is REALLY not good. They told her she had 6 months to live- and said she can either choose quality (living six months chemo free) or quantity (living as long as possible but undergoing extreme chemo and being low functioning). At first, my aunt chose quality. But my uncle was not okay with this. He could not wrap his mind around possibly losing his wife- he told her “you can live with out be I sure as hell cannot live with out you”. He told her they’d do chemo together. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing. What a team, right?

My aunt has to get chemo three days a week for five hours each day- my uncle does his hour with her (literally sits right beside her!!) Neither of them can work now. Their son, my cousin (he is 25) is doing his best to make money- but hello- I think all of us can agree how difficult (physically and m
entally) this must be for him.

I love these people. I would not be requesting donations if I did not think they deserved it. But they do. They do anything and everything for others- it is their turn to receive some help and love. Any little bit counts.THANK YOU again for reading this. If you or a loved one has had to battle with this- I feel for you. Cancer is disgusting. It does not care who you are or how good you are. It does not care if you are homeless or if you are rich. It does not care what color skin you have. It does not care about anything. My thoughts go out to all of those who have and who are currently struggling with this awful disease. You are strong. You are amazing. Keep fighting.