Porter was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October 2011, he was 8 years old.  He endured 3.3 years of lifesaving chemo that included many different drugs through an IV line called a port, through spinal taps and pills.  He's a tough kid who comes from a tough family and he was done with all of that in January 2015.  January 2020 would be five years since the completion of chemo and he would be considered cured.

Fast forward seven years and two days to October 2018, Porter was 15 years old and a visit to the pediatrician to investigate some mysterious hives revealed what a cancer mom fears the most, all of the time...Porter's leukemia was back.  The relapse protocol called for exactly two years of intense chemo this time.  He was 14 months away from being considered cured.

During both of his occurrences I was fortunate enough to be able to receive unemployment and stay home with him.  The first time, I was able to go back to work when he returned to school full time the following September. When I was approved for unemployment I assumed that since I was granted a 52 week claim, that I would make it to September again.  The last of the intense chemo he receives will be completed in September and had agreed with my employer to return to work on September 3rd.  I found out two weeks ago that while my claim was approved for 52 weeks, it was only funded for 26 and my account is almost used up (the claim I put in today for the past two weeks is all that there is left).

I am fortunate enough to have an employer who let me work from home as I was able to, which basically paid for my health insurance.  They have done so much for me and were able to put me right back on the schedule.  However I can't at this time return to my previous position as director, so I am going back as a teacher which unfortunately requires me to take a significant pay cut.  I have been a single mom for the past 10 years, working my butt off to make sure my kids have everything they need.  Their dad has been helping as much as he can but is fully disabled and living off of social security.  I haven't received child support in a long time (because he wasn't working for part of the year before he received disability).  The kids should be able to receive dependent benefits through social security but we have been jumping through hoops trying to get it going, there has been unexplained delay after delay since September.  Each month I am told it should get pushed through and each month, nothing. 

I am suddenly faced with the prospect of finding a second job to make all ends meet.  The last thing my kids need now is for me to work two jobs.  Porter has clinic/chemo every Wednesday and is going into the last few weeks of heavy chemo all the while he is still completing classes via cyber school to make up for all of the work he missed this school year.  

The thought of working is never something that I question.  I will always work when I can.  I started back today.  I need to support my kids.  However, the notion of working so much I never see my kids isn't one I want to consider.  By starting this Go Fund Me all I am asking is for just a little help to get us through the next few months without me having to work two jobs.

I know how many of you have been here for us and supported us in so many ways and I want to say thank you.  This journey sucks and I can't imagine going through it alone.