Don protégé
My dear cousin Becky is currently fighting ovarian cancer. There is never a “good” time for cancer, however, Becky’s fight has been made even more difficult due to the COVID-19 shutdowns, which caused her to lose her job before she was even diagnosed. She hasn’t been able to work since then, and so a two-income family of five has been forced to sustain itself on just one income for the past several months, while also supporting Becky through surgery and chemotherapy.
I want Becky and her family to be able to put everything they have into this fight. I don’t want them to have to worry where the money will come from for mortgage payments or food. I want them to know how much they are loved – loved so much that we are willing to join in their fight and help by donating money.
Becky and me :-)
Becky’s family moved from Minnesota to Australia when she was just a baby in the early 70s. Becky and I reconnected when she came to live with my mom and dad right after high school, planning to stay for a year. Instead of going back to Australia, she stayed - she met and married Troy Robertson, and they have three children: Dune, Zane, and Mazzy. Becky’s mother and stepfather, and her brother and sisters all still live in Australia.
Becky and her husband, Troy
Becky is the kind of person who will drop everything to be there when you need her. I know this because she has done that for our family many times. She took extended time off work in January of 2017 to stay with my parents after my mom was released from the hospital near the end of her fight against cancer. She came and stayed again when my mom died in April of that year - she ran errands, cleaned, helped us put together photo boards for the funeral; she did anything that needed to be done. She was there when we needed her.
Becky with my dad, her Uncle Dave
I want to be there for her now, and I need your help.
Becky’s Cancer Diagnosis
Becky began having abdominal pain late in February of 2020. At first the pain was mild, and she thought it was just a strained muscle.
On April 1, Becky lost her job due to COVID layoffs, and then with all of the shut downs, she found herself sitting around more than usual. The abdominal pain became more noticeable; it now felt like she had done a strenuous ab workout at the gym.
Her husband, Troy, insisted she go to the doctor to get it checked out, so she made the appointment for April 27. By the time her appointment day came around, Becky had been bedridden due to the intense pain in her abdomen. She was experiencing pain so unbearable that she wasn’t able to stand up straight. She had very little appetite as well, which resulted in her losing 40 pounds in just a two-month period.
On June 1, Becky had surgery to remove her ovaries, a portion of her small and large intestines, her appendix, and an abdominal lymph node. When she was recovering after her surgery, Troy and the kids weren’t allowed to visit because of COVID restrictions, which meant she went straight from surgery to four days without a hug or a kiss from her loved ones.
Becky was diagnosed with stage IIIC ovarian cancer, meaning the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen or to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.
Vanity is a Bastard
Since the end of June, Becky has been undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments. When her hair began to fall out in July, she wrote:
“Vanity is a bastard. Denial is easier when you can’t see a change. Time to put my big girl pants on. I love you all so much. I am just going to indulge in a moment of self pity, then I will be ready for when I have to shave it off.”
In addition to the hair loss, the chemo has been causing joint and bone aches, tingling fingertips, as well as other unpleasant symptoms. Each treatment takes her down for a few days until she is strong enough to get back to moving around.
Becky has continued to remain positive. She especially enjoyed renewing her relationships with her family when she was receiving daily phone calls. Troy and the kids have always been very thoughtful and caring, and now they have stepped up and been even more responsible for things around the house.
Becky with her son Dune (above) and her son Zane (below)
During her time alone in the hospital, Becky had a lot of time to think about her future. She worries about leaving her children too soon, and not being next to her husband to enjoy seeing them grow. She says she was feeling prepared to fight a private battle against cancer, but after her hair loss, she realized that now everyone would know.
Becky and her daughter, Mazzy
I would love to show her that she doesn’t have to fight it alone. Will you help Becky beat her cancer by donating today?
Thank you.
P.S. Prayers are also welcome and appreciated!
I want Becky and her family to be able to put everything they have into this fight. I don’t want them to have to worry where the money will come from for mortgage payments or food. I want them to know how much they are loved – loved so much that we are willing to join in their fight and help by donating money.
Becky and me :-) Becky’s family moved from Minnesota to Australia when she was just a baby in the early 70s. Becky and I reconnected when she came to live with my mom and dad right after high school, planning to stay for a year. Instead of going back to Australia, she stayed - she met and married Troy Robertson, and they have three children: Dune, Zane, and Mazzy. Becky’s mother and stepfather, and her brother and sisters all still live in Australia.
Becky and her husband, Troy Becky is the kind of person who will drop everything to be there when you need her. I know this because she has done that for our family many times. She took extended time off work in January of 2017 to stay with my parents after my mom was released from the hospital near the end of her fight against cancer. She came and stayed again when my mom died in April of that year - she ran errands, cleaned, helped us put together photo boards for the funeral; she did anything that needed to be done. She was there when we needed her.
Becky with my dad, her Uncle Dave I want to be there for her now, and I need your help.
Becky’s Cancer Diagnosis
Becky began having abdominal pain late in February of 2020. At first the pain was mild, and she thought it was just a strained muscle.
On April 1, Becky lost her job due to COVID layoffs, and then with all of the shut downs, she found herself sitting around more than usual. The abdominal pain became more noticeable; it now felt like she had done a strenuous ab workout at the gym.
Her husband, Troy, insisted she go to the doctor to get it checked out, so she made the appointment for April 27. By the time her appointment day came around, Becky had been bedridden due to the intense pain in her abdomen. She was experiencing pain so unbearable that she wasn’t able to stand up straight. She had very little appetite as well, which resulted in her losing 40 pounds in just a two-month period.
On June 1, Becky had surgery to remove her ovaries, a portion of her small and large intestines, her appendix, and an abdominal lymph node. When she was recovering after her surgery, Troy and the kids weren’t allowed to visit because of COVID restrictions, which meant she went straight from surgery to four days without a hug or a kiss from her loved ones.
Becky was diagnosed with stage IIIC ovarian cancer, meaning the cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen or to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.
Vanity is a Bastard
Since the end of June, Becky has been undergoing regular chemotherapy treatments. When her hair began to fall out in July, she wrote:
“Vanity is a bastard. Denial is easier when you can’t see a change. Time to put my big girl pants on. I love you all so much. I am just going to indulge in a moment of self pity, then I will be ready for when I have to shave it off.”
In addition to the hair loss, the chemo has been causing joint and bone aches, tingling fingertips, as well as other unpleasant symptoms. Each treatment takes her down for a few days until she is strong enough to get back to moving around.
Becky has continued to remain positive. She especially enjoyed renewing her relationships with her family when she was receiving daily phone calls. Troy and the kids have always been very thoughtful and caring, and now they have stepped up and been even more responsible for things around the house.
Becky with her son Dune (above) and her son Zane (below) During her time alone in the hospital, Becky had a lot of time to think about her future. She worries about leaving her children too soon, and not being next to her husband to enjoy seeing them grow. She says she was feeling prepared to fight a private battle against cancer, but after her hair loss, she realized that now everyone would know.
Becky and her daughter, Mazzy I would love to show her that she doesn’t have to fight it alone. Will you help Becky beat her cancer by donating today?
Thank you.
P.S. Prayers are also welcome and appreciated!
Organisateur et bénéficiaire
Kristi Longtin
Organisateur
Pleasant Hill, IA
Rebecca Robertson
Bénéficiaire