Those of you who know me, know that I have spent much of my life helping others, as a healer for animals and people. I never imagined that I would be in this position, but I am in need of and asking for your help. In March of last year I was diagnosed with something called Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. While it is said that this is a condition that people "die with, not from", it does come with symptoms and complications. And because my family carries the BRCA1 gene, my oncologist had me tested and confirmed that I also carry this gene. This, on top of having blood cancer, makes me more susceptible to certain other cancers. So I recently underwent a breast MRI, which did show a mass in one of my breasts. At this point, they are calling it benign, but further testing is needed. I go in for more blood work in two weeks, and if my numbers continue to go in the undesirable direction in which they have been going, I may be a candidate for treatment at that time.

Those of you who know me know that my leaning is more toward integrative therapies. I have given my name to an integrative group at the cancer center where I am being cared for, and am waiting to hear their exact recommendations. But my desire is to be able to get more holistic treatment, such as acupuncture, mistletoe therapy, Vitamin C therapy, oxygen therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen and ozone, as well as specific nutritional supplements. I would prefer to go this route rather than harsher medical treatment, but I will do whatever I need to do. But all of these things take money, and insurance typically does not pay for these treatments. And I currently have co-pays that I have not been able to cover. So I do not have funds for these treatments.

I am still able to work, but I find that my stamina is diminished. My work with the horses as a bodyworker/therapist is physically demanding. And if I go into treatment I will find it harder to work. While I want to continue my business of 28 years, I have found that this year has not been kind to me in terms of work, and I now find myself in a dire situation financially, on top of all of these health and medical concerns.

So now I am greatly in need of help. I currently need help with rent and living expenses, medical co-pays, food, and supplements. I need funding for these integrative treatments in order to hopefully prevent the need for harsher cancer treatment, and to reverse the course that this disease seems to be taking.

And just this afternoon I received word that I am at risk of losing my beloved laser that I use for may healing work with the horses, because of some missed payments due to this situation.

I have spent the past 35 years of my adult life helping others, whether it was as a psychotherapist working with loss and grief, AIDS, and then children in foster care, or whether it was doing the healing work that I do with horses and dogs as well as people. Now I find myself the one in need of healing. I am asking you for that help in finding the healing path that I need to stop and reverse the course of this cancer in my blood and body..

Please, if you can donate to this fund to help me, I would appreciate that donation with all my heart. And if you can't donate financially, please consider sharing and boosting this campaign with your friends and relatives, That would help tremendously. This is very hard to do. I don't ask for help easily. But I would be most grateful to you for your help in whatever capacity you can give it.

With deepest gratitude,

Catherine