Please Help Fight for a Beautiful Life

Annie is one of the kindest people I have ever known. She has been a friend to many, a loving set of arms for all who know her and a true pillar of compassion during her lifetime. She is 40 years young and absolutely stunning inside and out. In September 2021 Annie was faced with the news of her life when she found out that she had a very aggressive and advanced case of stage 3 (b) cervical cancer. She believes in a "Holistic Lifestyle," which isn't easy to maintain when you are as ill as she is.

She has lived her entire life being "The Healthy Living Junkie," and has dedicated her life to educating people about; healthy food, personal training, nutrition, exercise and holistic practices. Finding out this news has shocked all of us who know and love her. We used to roller skate as kids together and she was always the one winning the gold medals. To watch her compete in competitions, was to see a true artist and master of grace. To see her this way is unimaginable for so many of us. She was born in Taiwan and came to the United States as a baby. I met Annie when I was 7 years old. I am now 38 and Annie and I have loved each other for over 30 years. We were raised in an inner city neighborhood in Houston where you were lucky to even have furniture, let alone health insurance. Annie has always lived a humble and holistic lifestyle. She enjoys helping animals, traveling to places that are beautiful and quiet as well as advancing her holistic practices through reading and learning from fellow spiritualists.

As her lifelong best friend, I received a call on 9/30/21 that Annie was at Seton Medical Center in Austin, TX and was asking for me to come right away before she went into an unresponsive state.

I was there the next day (I live out of area). When I arrived Annie couldn't speak and was in complete organ failure. She was also drowning in her on bodily fluid due to full body edema. It was about that time that I found out I needed to be her Medical Power of Attorney (which I was happy to do). 

I knew I had to honor her wishes and respect her spiritual beliefs. In the beginning, I had to constantly remind myself that this had nothing to do with me and everything to do with her wishes... It sounds easy, but it truly was not.

The amazing medical staff there saved her life and stabilized her organs. She also had an amazing boyfriend and dear friends that all pitched in. This has taken a village and I truly love everyone who has helped. The doctors were able to get her emergency radiation to stop the internal bleeding. I was by her bedside for 13 days straight until she regained consciousness. I spoke with Hospitalists, Urologists, Oncologists, Psychologists and even managed her condition with a Hospital case worker. It was one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my entire life. When she woke up we quickly realized that this was not our same Annie. While unresponsive, she suffered a stroke that had a massive impact on how she is able to care for herself.

She has a very long road ahead of her and will need constant care, medical assistance, treatment, medications, food, medical transport, chemo, radiation and a home health nurse. The doctors said that she needs to be in a long-term care facility while she battles the cancer because she is also experiencing heart failure. Of course, those facilities cost $5,000-$10,000 per month and she would need medical transport from the facility to go receive her treatments (which of course costs extra)

I feel very naive because I always thought "When people are sick, hospitals have to take care of them….Right?!" I quickly found out how wrong I was and realized I needed to ask for help and fast.

I am doing this because this woman is so, so special. She gives away her last $5 if a family needs food, or a single mother needs gas money. She would rather take a bus instead of accepting a ride just so she isn't a bother to anyone. She cares about others more than herself and truly loves with all of her heart.

Most of you that know me do not know that this woman took care of me when I was younger, even though she is only 2 years older than me she acted like a mother to me. We both had very difficult childhoods, but because of her I was able to make something of myself. She always pushed me to be the best and to never give up. It is that love and compassion that is driving me to fight for her now.

I do hope we can raise enough to help save Annie the way she has always saved others. She is absolutely amazing. The world needs Annie, and so do I.

God bless you all for giving whatever you can give to help me save her life and get her the treatment she needs!

I am not that good at asking for help so this is very hard for me, but my husband and I are truly humbled to know so many amazing people, such as all of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and WE WILL SAVE OUR SWEET ANNIE!