Support Rachel Carter-Long's Cancer Battle

Hello Dear Friends and Family, and New Friends Found.

I am Rachel Carter-Long, happy wife and mother of a delightful beautiful daughter in her second year of college at Liberty University.

In high school, Bollingbrook, I was known by my family nickname of 'Beth'.

Many of you know that this past April I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

(Some of you know that my mother, Nancy Carter, died in 2006 from breast cancer.)

Breast cancer is something every woman, every family dreads to hear...But God... He is carrying me.

Through circumstances only God can orchestrate, a surgeon sent me to a wonderful oncologist. Initially his tests showed the two cancer marker numbers came down. They didn't stay down. The cancer has spread to my liver and the bones in my back causing sciatic pain in my left leg, and pain & swelling with restricted movement in my right arm. I have had fluid build up in my right lung pluera sending me to the hospital for four stays between July and September. I have hardly been able to function or work since May. it seemed that all I did was sleep through the Summer. I feel robbed of my time with my daughter.

The very first acupuncture physician that I ever met and worked with told me about treatment options available in Germany. He had interned at Clinic St. George, a specialty hospital. They treat cancers and Lyme's disease.

With the encouragement of my oncologist, I have traveled to Germany for treatments that are not available State-side. I arrived Monday October 21st, talked with the doctors Tuesday and was evaluated. The treatment plans look very encouraging & aggressive, BUT (always the big 'BUT') everything is more expensive than expected, and all out of pocket. There is no insurance coverage or reimbursement. We are using up our health savings, and cashing in our retirement stocks. The doctors would like me to stay for 5 weeks, be home a month, return for 2 weeks, and possibly another 2 weeks shortly after that to ensure cure.

So here I am asking for financial help from all of you with big hearts.

I cannot thank you enough!

I ESPECIALLY THANK MY HUSBAND, DAUGHTER, & BROTHERS CHIP & JIMMY, & MY SISTER JANE for their love, support & sacrifices to get me this far. I love you all.