Medical and Home Related Costs

UPDATE 3/20/24

Hello everyone!!! I wanted to write an update as it's been a while and I want to inform people of how things have been. I once again want to say thank you for anyone who donated, shared, and supported during this time. I am so beyond grateful and there will never be a way that I can thank you all enough. Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I want to start this off with wonderful news: my mom's mastectomy went well, she's been recovering amazingly, and best of all, she has no cancer detected in her body. She is cancer free!!!!!! I'm so happy for her and so grateful that she is finally starting to come out of these difficult times and healing both physically and emotionally from this experience. The news of my mom's cancer affected her badly and it had definitely taken a toll on her perspective of life. I was with her when her cancer doctor gave us the good news, and I'll never forget how her arms wrapped tightly around me as she cried tears of joy. I'm so glad I get to witness her moving past this difficult situation and looking towards good times in the future.

As for our housing situation, we got lucky (in a sense). We are able to stay at our current home, but we are still struggling financially as our rent has risen quite a bit. There is also some uncertainty as to whether our insurance will cover all of my mother's medical expenses. Any money that was raised from here will be used to pay off whatever expenses won't be covered by insurance. If insurance does cover all the costs, then the money will be used to help us pay our rent until we are able to move of our own volition. With luck, that'll be sometime next year!! Again, I am so grateful to all of you who have shown such immense support. It is the reason that my family has been able to move forward and look ahead to better times and have hope for our future.

I wanted to add a quick tidbit as well. Adam and I weren't able to fully surprise our parents, as we had to let our dad know due to him being nosy and we eventually had to spill the beans to him. He was in shock and is so grateful that people were able to make something like this happen. Our dad kept the secret and allowed us kids to surprise our mom. We showed her this page after we brought her home from her surgery, and I'll never forget her reaction. She was brought to tears and was so thankful that people even thought to help us out like this. I remember her taking the time to slowly scroll through my phone and read all of the messages that some of you sent and she couldn't believe how many people had helped us out in such a tremendous way. Both of my parents wanted to extend their thanks to all of you and let you all know that you are such kind and amazing people. You have helped our family out so much and I know I keep repeating that but this means the absolute world to us. I wish you all nothing but the best for the future and I hope that the universe will repay that kindness tenfold to all of you who have shown so much of it to my family. Thank you.

With love,

Ema Terzic <3

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Hi, my name is Ema. My family has been through a lot of hardships in the past few months and I'm hoping that anyone who reads this will be able to sympathize with me and my family. In September, we found out that my mother has a tumor in one of her breasts, and by November, we were notified that she has breast cancer. My mother has a scheduled mastectomy for January, and afterwards, she will not be able to work for a while as she will be recovering and we still don't know the full effects of the cancer and if it is present anywhere else in her body.

Then, on January 1st, we were notified by our landlord that he is planning on selling the home that we have rented from him for the past 13.5 years. My family has until the end of February to find a new place and move out. My mother will not be able to help with packing and moving out, so it will mainly be on me and my brother, as our father also has some medical problems, and is working around 50 hours a week, so he will not be able to help to the fullest extent. It's also difficult for us as my mom is currently working 2 jobs as well, but our family is trying to maintain positive throughout all this. My brother is currently a senior in high school, and I was supposed to be a junior in college, but due to many other unfortunate circumstances, I had to leave college for the time being and am now currently working around 25-40 hours a week, and my brother works part time on the weekends as well. My family will be unable to afford purchasing a home, so we will have to rent, and even that will be a struggle to pay, along with my mother's hospital bills.

When I say that any amount of money would help, I truly mean it. However, there is absolutely no obligation to donate at all. If you are even able to share this link, I would truly appreciate it. Thank you and may your days be wonderful and filled with joy.