Joanie's Journey--Help her beat cancer.

Joanie Hammond has spent a lifetime caring for others. She not only cares for the people in her family, but in her community as well. She makes care packages for the homeless, checks on her neighbors after surgery, and goes to doctor’s appointments with those who cannot go alone. Joanie is generous, funny, adventurous and loving. But above all she is brave. She is the kind of person you would want to help, and she is also a person who will not ask for help even though she needs it.

Joanie has been battling Leiomyosarcoma for about three years now. It is a cancer that is metastatic, meaning it is in her blood. In all that time she has had no monetary support from others. She lost her job last June after 22 years. The family she worked for moved to New York. Because of her chemo she has not been able to work. Joanie had a second surgery last May to remove a tumor from her abdominal aorta. This was a second surgery in the same spot. The tumor attached itself between her stomach and her back and she had to have the valve reconstructed during the second surgery. When they found the cancer had returned in the same spot they also discovered it had spread to her lungs, spine, and kidneys. She also had to start a second kind of chemo because the first treatment did not improve her condition.

Joanie is in for a long haul of treatments. Joanie has applied for disability, but has yet to receive assistance. She lives alone and asks very little from others. She is extremely proud and has a difficult time asking for help. So, as her sister I am asking for her. Please give if you can. She will not misuse your contribution.