Have you ever experienced a nightmare? You know, the kind of nightmare that knocks the wind out of you with fear, sadness and leaving you in utter shock.   For me, my nightmare began the day that my best friend and twin sister Barbara Consolo found out she had cancer. 

It was in September of 2016 my sister Barbara Consolo noticed a lump on her breast, sadly she was diagnosed with a very rare form of breast cancer. The cancer consisted of three different types, Invasive Ductal, DCIS but the one that made her condition so unique and rare was Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC).  Barbara started a 6-month treatment of chemo, followed by radiation, lumpectomy, and then reconstructive surgery.   Thankfully the treatment was successful, and she went into remission. 

Throughout her cancer journey, Barbara stayed strong in her faith and remained positive. Barbara believed there was a purpose in the pain and through her own experience she felt the need to give hope to other cancer patients.  Barbara joined a breast cancer support group and very quickly became an inspiration to other women, she was there to help lift their spirits, to stay strong, courageous and fight!  

My sister once told me, this was a new kind of life for her, one that was lived in quarters because it was her quarterly scans that would determine her fate. She took nothing for granted and spent time nurturing new and existing relationships.  Cherishing every moment from sunrise to sunset.   Barbara’s energetic personality, contagious smile, and positive attitude made it easy for others to gravitate to her, as she encouraged spending quality time with friends and family.  

Barbara continued going to her routine CAT scans, and just as her cancer “armor” was coming down her June CAT scan showed two suspicious mammary gland lymph nodes. After dealing with insurance and finally getting a PET scan in July, she found out that the cancer had come back, but this time they were not local to her breast, but near her heart and near her breast bone. The doctors were able to biopsy the spot near her breast bone, and it was the Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC).

As you pray for a loved ones’ healing and strength, you realize their importance in your life.   Barbara is the anchor in my family and our friendship circle, she is the one that keeps us together, she is considerate, always willing to help others, loves unconditionally, and effortlessly.

After getting three different opinions, the agony of deciding which treatment to go forward with, she made the decision to do another 6-months of treatment consisting of 18 rounds of chemo and 30 rounds of radiation at the same time, and then immunotherapy which gives them the best odds to eradicate the cancer from her body.  

This is where help is needed, unfortunately with medical expenses from the last treatment, and the course of this treatment,  just to give you an idea, for each one she goes to each day will cost her $1680.00, i.e, co-pay $35.00 * 48 = $1680.00.  Then for each visit she gets invoiced separately,  she’s up to 11 different bills, which I cannot even begin to understand why that happens, and they all want minimum payments.   Each month Barbara out of pocket is $1,075.00,  this is not including her daily commute for treatment at Loyola, an hour away from home and her plan to visit  Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis MN.  

As a family we’re coming together to do all we can to help lessen the burden for Barbara and her family, so I’m turning to you, my extended family, friends, acquaintances, all who have been touched by my sister’s story, her joy for life, love, hospitality and strength in her faith. 

Please take a moment to consider donating to this amazing family as no contribution is too small.

If you are unable to contribute monetary donations, there are other ways to help the Consolo’s.  Visit  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1850580298298575/  where you can join Barbara for chemo and radiation visits or to bring by a meal.       

We truly appreciate all your love, support and prayers.   Beverly