My name is Yusbelis Mariela Sánchez. In October 2014, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. We had come to Norway from Venezuela just two years earlier, looking for a safe future for our two daughters. In 2018, the cancer returned, this time as stage 4, spreading to my bones and lymphatic system. Since then, there is no cure, only palliative care.

Last year, after seeing the cancer had spread throughout my skeleton, I underwent a year of chemotherapy. Now, I take Alpelisib, a medication that has caused type 2 diabetes, while I fight to keep the cancer from affecting more vital organs.

These ten years have been hard, not only physically but also emotionally. My husband and daughters live with the constant fear of losing me. They started this journey with me when they were 10 and 3 years old, and have grown up amidst hospitals, fears, and sacrifices. My husband, who is the only one working, carries the weight of the entire family without any psychological support.

Our financial situation is unsustainable. We live on a very tight budget and have accumulated debt for basic expenses like electricity, food, hospital bills, and clothing.

My only wish is that, when I am no longer here, my family can live in peace, without the burden of debt or the fear of lacking essentials. My daughters have grown up here; this is their home, and my dream is for them to have a secure, worry-free future. I am deeply grateful for any help that allows us to meet our basic needs and ensures my family’s stability here in Norway.