Rachel Bough Fights Cancer

Our dear friend Rachel has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Liver and Colon Cancer. Rachel has a very challenging diagnosis, with months of grueling treatment ahead of her. Due to her diagnosis, she is unable to work while receiving treatment, healing, and recovering. Our goal is to make sure that Rachel and her family can focus on healing rather than the heavy financial burden she is facing. Let me tell you about our dear friend Rachel. She is a single mom with a 17 year old son. Her son’s father has not been in the picture at all since he was 4 years old. His father has never paid the ordered amount of child support. When the state would catch up with him, he would quit his job so the state would be unable to collect child support. Since the birth of her son, Rachel has worked diligently to provide for him. Often carrying two jobs, Rachel still found time to make sure her son is loved, memories are made. and has all of his needs are met. All of her medical issues began in June of 2022 when Rachel’s car was rear-ended by a speeding truck. Around this same time she was also diagnosed with diabetes. She had physical therapy and injections for pain while treating her diabetes. Rachel was losing weight rapidly. By March of 2023 her weight was a mere 87 pounds. Her diabetes dosage changed and was prescribed incorrectly. This resulted in paramedics being called to revive her due to extreme blood sugar low. By this point she was not functioning coherently. She lost her day job because she failed to attend required training that she was not aware of. She was still working her part time night job when she was admitted to the hospital on May 5. She has been hospitalized since then (except for five days). During her hospital stay, she received the unfortunate news that Stage 4 Colon and Liver Cancer. She was still losing weight due to SMA Syndrome (Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome is a digestive condition that occurs when the part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach is pinched by two arteries.), which resulted in placement of a feeding tube. Rachel continues to battle blood clots and she is also on 2 kinds of blood thinners for these blood clots. Rachel’s feeding tube either malfunctioned or was misplaced. She is now down to only 74 pounds (due to a partially failed tube) and is now being fed through a feeding port. The ultimate goal the doctors have stated for Rachel is surgery to remove a mass in her colon. This removal cannot happen until chemo and radiation shrink the mass to an operative size. Chemo cannot happen until her weight is up. Rachel will only be able to start chemo at half of the normal dose once her oncologist determines it is safe. Currently, the plan is for her to go home to her mother's house when she is discharged, with the feeding port and 2 different home health care agencies. Her mom is 77 and was working part time to make ends meet but hasn't worked since Rachel was hospitalized. Rachel has applied for Medicaid and unemployment while she fights this battle. As Rachel, her mom and son wait for these funds to kick in, her medical expenses are piling up, she fears her house going into foreclosure, and their vehicle being taking away.All of this on top of basic living needs being met. We believe with our whole hearts that we can help take the heavy financial burden away with the help of the community. We would like to ensure all of her bills and expenses are covered for at least two, if not three months, while she is receiving treatment and recovering. Please join us in praying for complete healing in Rachel’s body and consider helping to lift this financial burden for this amazing family. Thank you!