Let's Help Joyce Collins Battle Breast Cancer!

Many of you know my dear friend Joyce Collins, as she and her husband Randy have touched so many through their love, friendship and generosity towards others.  Whether you know her from her days growing up in Kingsville TX, from her and Randy’s extended family (aka Austin Jeep People), or through their very generous volunteer work as members of Texas Search and Rescue (Texsar), you know what a truly amazing person Joyce is! 

On July 19th, while at the ER for heart palpitations, Joyce shared some other health concerns with the doctor.  These included chronic back pain, a sore under her arm, and recent weight loss.  She soon discovered these seemingly unrelated issues turned out to be not so random after all.  She was given the devastating news that she has advanced stage IV metastatic breast cancer.  The wound under her arm is a cancerous tumor and the pain in her back is from the cancer spreading to her spine.  To say this news blindsided us all is an understatement.

Due to the current Covid restrictions, Joyce received this devastating news alone in the emergency room without support by her side. The parking lot had become a waiting room for Randy where he received the news.  Finally, after some persuasion by Joyce, the doctors made an exception and allowed Randy into the hospital to be with her.  Earlier in the day, Randy was in Corpus Christi caring for his elderly father, who is fighting his own battle with cancer. He sped back to Austin when he got the call from Joyce saying she was heading to the ER, never imagining this would be the outcome.

And so the battle beings:  Joyce started radiation this week on the cancer that has spread to her back, which will hopefully begin to reduce some of the pain she has been suffering for months.  A biopsy preformed on the tumor under her arm confirmed that her cancer is estrogen receptor positive, which means it should respond to hormone therapy, which she will start immediately.  Next week will be more tests, as it is believed that the cancer may have also spread to her liver.

As some of you know, Randy was recently laid off from a company where he’s been for many years.  This was very unsettling news for Joyce and Randy as they rely on both of their incomes to survive.  Randy now has a new career in security sales, which he loves and is amazing at; however, as with most sales positions, it is still in the ramping-up stages.  Joyce plans to maintain as much of her usual workload as possible, but it is still unknown how the cancer treatment will affect her ability to do so.  Cancer is a huge financial burden on an already delicate financial situation. Because they are Randy and Joyce, they plan to face this obstacle as they do all others, leaning on their faith together.

They need our help! Randy and Joyce have been there for many of us throughout the years, in one way or another, selflessly giving all they had at any hour of the day or night. It is time for us to help pitch in to make this unbelievable struggle just a little bit easier for them.  We are in an uncertain time with Covid upon us, but if you are able to help, please consider donating.  Even a small amount makes a difference as this could be one less worry on their minds.

Please keep Joyce and Randy in your thoughts and prayers as they face this new challenge.  Stay tuned for more updates and please share the link to this page with everyone you know who has been touched by Randy and Joyce in some way through the years.