I am reaching out with a heartfelt request on my behalf while I battle breast cancer and receive treatment at UT Southwestern in Dallas.

I was diagnosed in January while in Texas, helping to care for my granddaughter while my daughter and son-in-law were preparing to welcome the birth of my new grandson. What should have been a time filled with excitement also became a time of grief and stress for me and my family. I have the strength and determination to fight this so I can continue to be a loving presence in my grandbabies' lives.

During the past three months, I have had four mammograms, three bilateral breast ultrasounds, two breast biopsies, a cancer scare in the other breast, travel to Houston and Dallas, many blood draws, radiology testing, ER and doctors’ visits. There are currently seven doctors a part of my treatment team.

I will need to have parathyroid surgery in the next couple of weeks for Hypercalcemia before I have surgery for my breast cancer at the end of April. This is to avoid complications during and after my cancer surgery. Every week has been filled with 2-3 appointments for my care.

As most know, I am a small business owner. That means no paid time off, no sick leave, no safety net. Although I have insurance, I still have a deductible, coinsurance, insurance premiums, and co-pays. I face an additional 2-3 months of missed work during surgeries, recovery, possible radiation, and five years of ongoing treatment medicine as a best-case scenario. My doctors are hopeful I can avoid chemotherapy. We will know once the pathology comes back a couple of weeks after the surgery, but the treatment journey is still intense, exhausting, and expensive. With a long road ahead, the financial strain is becoming overwhelming.

I have always done everything on my own while raising two wonderful children. I feel ashamed to even have to create this GoFundMe. I don’t want to choose between my health, my future, and financial fear.

I have learned a lot about what anyone with cancer goes through. Mentally, it is draining. There are treatments you need to research and choose from that are lifelong decisions. There are so many unexpected costs outside of insurance, like parking fees at the facility, gas, special high-protein diets, items for recovery after surgery (such as button-down shirts/pajamas, renting a recliner or buying wedges for the bed, etc.). Did you know you are not supposed to lift your arms much? And you can’t pick up anything over 5 lbs. Most of the money you donate to charities goes towards research and salaries. Most of those that do offer some financial assistance are often out of funds for the entire year already! My eyes have been opened.

The money donated will help cover ongoing expenses to kick cancer to the curb and recover fully. There are already $8600 in medical fees. It will cover gas, parking fees, insurance premiums, recovery treatments, supportive therapies, daily living expenses, and recovery items.

Any contribution, no matter how small, is appreciated and will help alleviate some of the stress and challenges I face during this fight. I ask that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Thank you sincerely for your kindness, generosity, prayers, and support.