Help Marlena Rebuild After Cancer Treatment

Update as of March 31, 2025:

Today I put in my 2 month notice to vacate my apartment as I can no longer afford it. The unfortunate reality after 1 1/2 years of cancer treatment is that my body is broken. I just finished chemo yesterday but I’m still in so much pain and far too sick to work full time yet. Currently trying to figure out where I’m going next.

I know I’ll be ok, I’m starting life over from scratch but mostly I’m so grateful to still be alive!

This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. If you know me, you know I'm extremely independent and I take fierce pride in being on top of my finances. But right now I have no idea how I'm going to pay my bills for the next few months. I've applied for all the grants and government assistance my cancer social worker and I can find. Most of them say they take 3-4 months to get approved.

My mom and dad have taken out a line of credit to help me, but they're struggling to make the payments on it (or will be struggling soon). They live on a very small fixed income. I do not come from anything resembling generational wealth.

In theory I'm well enough that I could work part-time, but with all my appointments it could only be max 10-15 hours/week, fully remote, and the schedule would have to be completely flexible since the anti-nausea meds interfere with my sleep. I have many nights where I get 0-3 hours of sleep, often several nights in a row. The meds are great for the nausea, but not so great for being able to focus on anything like work after several sleepless nights.

Many of you have offered to cook meals for me or help me clean. While I deeply appreciate the kindness of these offers, I'm on a strict cancer-specific nutrition plan. I track everything that goes into my body and am extremely limited in what I can eat. And regarding cleaning: my apartment is tiny, only 600 square feet, and very easy for me to keep clean.

Where I really need help is paying my rent and bills until grants and government assistance start to come through. I don't have any medical bills as I'm covered by Medical Assistance (aka Medicaide). After being out of work all summer, I have no savings left - of any kind. I have nothing to draw on.

Thank you so much to anyone who chooses to give. I promise that when I am well and earning my own keep again, I will be giving back so much more than I have ever, ever given before. Cancer is changing me in so many ways.

Marlena