It's so hard to find the right words to ask for help. My name is Erika. I am 41 years old, I am a wife, and I have 6 kids—5 boys and 1 girl— ages 23,21,19,18,9 and 6and I am a grandmother, my grandson is 7 months.

I work for the United States Post Office as a postal clerk, a job I love. I am 2 months away from converting to a full-time employee.

I have been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma (subtype nodular sclerosis). For the last 3 years I have done a total of 11 rounds of chemo, 3-hour infusions. I am about to undergo an autologous transplant, which means I use my own peripheral blood stem cells. I will again do chemotherapy to try and wipe out any remaining cancer cells in my body Then my healthy stem cells will be put back in my body. I'm hoping and praying my stay in the hospital will be only a month, and then recovering at home in total its about a 6 month recovery but what's more important to me is being healthy and beating this disease. Im scared but also know this is rhe best trearment plan for me and the best odds at long term remission.I truly love my life and I want to be around to see my children grow up.

I will be at UC Davis Medical Center, which is about 1.5 hours from where I live. I created this page because I honestly and truly need the help. I love my job, but because I am not a full-time employee, I have no benefits. I don't even have leave. I also do not qualify for unemployment or state disability because I am a federal employee. However, I do qualify for SSA because I am disabled. However, the benefit amount is around of $1100 a month and will not take effect until September 2025 at the earliest. Every dollar I rasied and donated will go to my care and recovery for instance gas, hotel stay, parking for my family to come see me I would also like to get therapeutic medcine when I am out of the hospital and recovering I also would like to get a tablet while for my stay in the hospital.I AM will be ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AUG 9TH 2005 I 1000 percent plan on returning back to work when I am strong and healthy enough to do so. Any amount of money a person donates is so greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. Sadly, mine is one of hundreds going through the same battle.