Medical Leave For Single Mom of Six with Cancer

Hi, thank you for stopping by. My name is Michelle Shaw. I have six kids and a five acre farm with a horse, a pony, chickens, a little dog, 2 cats and a big garden. I recently started college to be a PTSD therapist. I have a job lined up for when I finish college, someday, to do equine therapy with veterans. For the present, I earned my yoga teacher certificate last year and this Spring completed a training to do yoga with veterans. I also have another yoga course for PTSD lined up for over the summer. It seemed like everything was falling right into place when I received the diagnosis that the bone cancer I had when I was 16 has returned - in the very same bone graft, which is unheard of as it’s a cancer only children get, and it isn’t known to come back in the same place. Be that as it may, sometimes we need something difficult to help us see the beauty all around us. There’s nothing like facing the unknown to make us appreciate what we have. My knee had been sprained in November and after about 4 months of doctor appointments and X-rays, trying to figure out why it wasn’t healing, one technician finally realized the truth and that very afternoon I had a ct scan to get the ball rolling. Thankfully I have some wonderful doctors who are even friends with the doctors I had when I was 16. I’ll be having chemo regularly in New Haven (an hour drive) as outpatient treatments. After a couple months I will have a major surgery to replace my knee as well as the bone graft in my shin. With almost all of the next 10 months being spent at home, there will be lots of things I will need for recovery. Prayers are most welcome of all. I will have to be out of work due to the intensive nature of the chemo needed and the painful and nauseous side effects that I experienced last time, as well as needing to rest from the surgery. Chemo kills all rapidly dividing cells, including healing cells, so the surgery is expected to take much longer to heal, same as when I was 16. We are so grateful for the support we have received. A couple friends are sponsoring us with a cleaning service for our home for the duration of the illness. A friend has been taking me to all my appointments in New Haven. Another friend has taken over cleaning my barn. The older boys are receiving violin and guitar lessons free of charge for the duration of my treatment. Isaiah’s orthodontist is accepting half price payments. Not to mention all the kindness and thoughtfulness we have received. As much as we hate to ask, we could really use financial support throughout the illness to make up for Michelle’s lack of income. Wigs made with human hair are not cheap; Michelle would like a realistic looking one made partly with human hair and partly synthetic for $1,500. Plus all the wig supplies. A wheelchair with bicycle tires for getting around the farm and going for walks with the kids costs $500. Most of all, we cannot afford to feed, house and clothe the kids without Michelle’s income. Any generosity would be most gratefully accepted to make this hard time much easier. Other forms of help and support we could use are activities for the kids to keep their spirits up, books for them, gas cards for getting to New Haven and daily lab work I will receive at a local hospital, Aldi and Tractor Supply gift cards, school clothes for the kids next Fall, or any general life expense would be most helpful and greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your love and prayers. Sometimes the most beautiful lessons come from the deepest sorrows. If you have any tips for easing the discomfort of chemo or ideas for boosting the immune system, or general support, we would love to hear from you. Thank you for everything!