I am starting this GoFundMe for my mom, Joan Venerosa. Nearly 6 years in remission since her first successful battle with breast cancer, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you all that the cancer has returned, with a vengeance, and spread to her bones. In October 2020, she went in for a biopsy of a swollen lymph node near her collarbone. It was then that she was given the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. This was about the worst news that either of us could have been given after the year we had all been through thus far.

For anyone who knows my mother, you already know that she is the epitome of selflessness. She has dedicated her entire life to helping others in every way imaginable. She has been a Physician’s Assistant since 1978 in Upstate NY, and at the age of 72, she is still working because of how much she loves her job. She especially loves working in pediatrics. Not to mention she just never sits still to begin with. Odds are you have experienced some, or all, of her culinary masterpieces such as homemade lasagna, meatballs, braciola, and sauce that she has brought in to work, invited you over for, or sent you home with at some point in time. She has always put the needs of others ahead of her own, often times going without or putting things on hold because she knows someone else may need the assistance more. For many years now, she has been the sole caretaker of her older sister, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is no longer self-sufficient, and she took care of her brother, who suffered from a rare disease called PSP, until he passed away in 2012. She is the embodiment of an exemplary parent, Physician’s Assistant, human-being, and friend, and I think we can all agree that we are lucky to know her. Although my career choice may seem unorthodox to most, she has continued to be my biggest supporter and has always pushed me to strive for excellence. My mother has allowed and encouraged me to pursue my dreams since she purchased my first guitar, for Christmas back in 1999. (A decision I am sure she regrets today lol!) Not everyone is blessed enough to have a support system like I am, so this is my way of showing her that I will always have her back, as I know many of you do, too!

 She recently started undergoing treatment which currently consists of Faslodex, Herceptin, and radiation. She is already having issues with her current insurance covering medications and treatments that her doctors are recommending like many of us have experienced. She has a $5,000 bill from the biopsy alone that was not covered through her insurance. Overall, she is currently feeling pretty good. This is why I want to get her help now to get this cancer under control as best as we can, so she can live for many more years and be able to travel, be at my wedding someday, and to meet her future grandchildren. I’m personally running a little more behind schedule on these things than the average person, so I hope to have as much more time with her as I can.

 First and foremost, the money we raise will go towards covering any medical treatment costs that her team of doctors feels is the best path for her. That being said, a few of her doctors have referred her to some integrative medicine organizations that we would love for her to have the opportunity to try. Unfortunately, these types of treatments are not covered by insurance and the initial visits are very pricey. A portion of the money will go towards helping her finish paying off the debt she had incurred from the last time she went through treatment which will finally allow her to retire and focus on her health.

 I wish that I could financially support her through this battle, but, unfortunately, I am unable to do that on my own which is why I am organizing this GoFundMe. The last time she went through breast cancer treatments, she had to take out a loan to cover bills and expenses since she was unable to work and disability only paid her a fraction of what she was making prior to that. She has sacrificed a lot for me and many others over the years. When I won a full-ride scholarship to attend Musicians Institute back in 2010, I had to move from a small town in Upstate NY to the big city of Los Angeles in under 3 weeks. You can imagine that helping a broke student with rent, moving costs, and other living expenses as a single parent did not come at a low price point. She has always found a way to make it work, whether she worked multiple jobs at one time or picked up extra hours at her current job. I never went without, all thanks to her. So, I am here to ask for any help you guys can give!

 Anything that you can donate to assist in reaching the goal to help my mother fight stage IV metastatic breast cancer is incredibly appreciated by our family - more than we could put into words. None of us are ready to lose her, especially me. We want to give her the best shot at long term survival that we can and to make sure that we are able to enjoy any and all the time we have with her. This will help us achieve that! Thank you!