Support Rachel Parsons' Cancer Battle

UPDATE 12/2/2021:

From Rachel:

"My Family of Friends and Helping Hands,



Thank you being my heroes in more ways than you will ever know.  Next Friday, chemo will start again for 8 days straight to wipe out my immune system. Then I will be admitted to the hospital for the stem cell transplant on December 20th.  That procedure will restart my immune system. They will keep me for around 2 weeks until my body is strong enough to handle the outside world and without them worrying.  Since my Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was chemo resistant, I will undergo radiation for a month sometime after the transplant.



I will be recuperating at least three months at home starting in the beginning of January.  Naturally, I won’t be able to work until at least April.



I’m so grateful for all the love, prayers and support shown to me this year.  Jehovah truly expresses his undeserved kindness through the hands of our friends and family.  Always remember, Jehovah is our sun and shield to protect us from life’s storms.  He will be your strength, don’t forget to use his unlimited power through prayer.  Keep in mind, Jehovah and I love you very much.



Jehovah sees your love and sacrifices for others, so he makes this promise of a reward,  “You who fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah — He is their help and their shield.  Jehovah remembers us and will bless; He will bless the house of Israel… He will bless those who fear Jehovah, The small as well as the great.  Jehovah will give you an increase, To you and your children.  May you be blessed by Jehovah, The Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 115:10-15



Agapé,

Rachel"



UPDATE 9/17/2021

From Rachel:

"Greetings, good people... “you highly favored one(s), Jehovah is with you.” (Lu 1:28)

 

Thank you is not really enough but you have my deepest gratitude for being sons and daughters of comfort/encouragement (like Barnabas).  I have no doubt the God of the heavens will bless and encourage you in return.

Blessed be your willing hearts throughout this year - keeping me in mind, sharing kind words, time and contributions (Romans 15:26).  Jehovah and I consider you all precious. 



Thank you all for ‘speaking consolingly... supporting the weak, be patient... always pursuing what is good toward one another and to all others.’  Let us “... Always be rejoicing. Pray constantly. Give thanks for everything. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18)


Unfortunately this challenging journey continues on to the next mountain range... 

Starting next Thursday I have new type of chemo and immunotherapy for the 1.5 months. After that we have to prep my body for a stem cell blood collection with drugs that stimulate stem/blood cell production




The oncologist expects the peripheral blood stem transplant to be in November/December which is 2 weeks in hospital. So the first few days they use high dose chemo to knockout your immune system and then they give ur stem cells back to u to regenerate ur immune system. They keep a close eye on you for the next 7-11 days. He also wants to do Radiation 30 days later and then maintenance immunotherapy every 3 weeks for as long as I can stand - max a year. Then slow recovery. 




Yes it’s disappointing and sad ... but don’t be too disheartened, he’s confident we can cure this. And in the words of another transplant patient “I have an attitude problem, I refuse to die.” Humor and holy Spirit will keep us all going. 




As Jehovah told Joshua “...Be courageous and strong. Do not be struck with terror or fear, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9




Let us all keep in mind: 

“Where would I be if I did not have faith That I would see Jehovah’s goodness in the land of the living? Hope in Jehovah; Be courageous and strong of heart.  Yes, hope in Jehovah.”- Ps 27:13, 14




 
I know you all have many anxieties and plagues of the heart, but Jehovah is a shield around us, lifting up our heads when they hung down with discouragement or disappointment. Keep calling to Jehovah and he will answer... Jehovah himself keeps supporting us. Salvation belongs to Jehovah.  His blessing is upon his people. (Psalms 3:3-5, 8)

 

No one is under any obligation or pressure “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”​—2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 or another translation says: “God loves people who love to give.”​—Contemporary English Version.  Jehovah himself loves your self-sacrificing spirits and will bless you for all you do for his name and for his people. 

 

Remember Jehovah promises “...I will not neglect you nor abandon you... Only courage, and do your very best to take care to live up to all that my servant Moses enjoined upon you; do not turn from it to right or to left, in order that you may do well wherever you go.  This book ... you are to study it day and night, in order that you may take care to live up to everything that is written in it, because then you will succeed in your efforts and will do well.  You have my orders: courage, and do your best; do not be overawed nor dismayed, because your God Jehovah is with you wherever you go.” (Jo 1:5-9) The Bible in Living English

 

 

Thank you,

Rachel"



UPDATE: 3/3/2021

From Rachel: 

"‍♀️ Hi, everyone!

 First of all, I just wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their unbelievable generosity and kindness.  "You yourselves know that these (your) hands have provided for my own needs..." - Acts 20:34

Unfortunately, “the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)  

My situation has changed a little bit. Due to neuropathy (aka numbness), my oncologist changed the plan and I will not be a good candidate for the antibody drug after all.

So at least, that major expense has been reduced.  There are ongoing costs that are expensive (managing side effects, trying to prevent long term effects, current treatment for two underlying conditions that may have contributed to the cancer, and reduced work). With that in mind, we are going to leave this page up for those that wanted a way to help.  Others have asked, I do have PayPal and Zelle. But you are under no pressure or obligation, your love and encouragement is priceless never forget that. I never will.

Thank you very much everyone for providing incredible support and for being Jehovah God’s hands for me. Jehovah WILL reward you. "The generous person will be blessed..." - Proverbs 22:9. It is undeserved kindness from above.

Hopefully all of us can follow the psalmist example "I keep Jehovah before me constantly. Because he is at my right hand, I will never be shaken. So my heart rejoices, my whole being is joyful. And I reside in security." - Psalm 16:8, 9

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me."





2/11/2021:

The Backstory 

Rachel Parsons and I have been friends since we were born. We grew up together and have been through the good times and the bad at each other’s side. Rachel has always faced every battle in life with a positive attitude and a smile. It is a great privilege to have her in my life.


 The Illness

 Now at 28-years-old, Rachel is facing a much greater battle.
Towards the end of 2020 Rachel was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
The cancer has advanced quickly. She has a mass in her chest that grew an inch in six weeks. The cancer is also in her lymph nodes.


The Treatment

 This cancer needs to be treated and the masses shrunk immediately!
 The usual treatment for this type of cancer involves four chemo agents. One of these agents is very harsh (bleomycin) and as a side effect causes severe damage to other healthy organs.

 But there is one other option.

There is a new targeted therapy that attacks only the cancer cells. It has cured 70% of the toughest cases. It can be used in place of the dangerous chemo agent and Rachel is an excellent candidate for this new therapy.

 I know what you’re thinking: “Well, then go with the new treatment! Don’t risk destroying your healthy organs! It’s a no brainer.”  I agree.

But Rachel’s insurance has denied her coverage for this life-saving and less harmful treatment.

That means that Rachel’s out of pocket expense for this therapy will be $150,000 for six-months of treatment.

 So, that makes her options either the dangerous chemo drug that will cause her more harm or going into medical debt for the rest of her life.


How YOU Can Help

 That’s where we come in. We can help get Rachel the therapy that will save her life and keep her safe from life-threatening side effects.    

Rachel is a fighter and I know she can beat this cancer. But to win a battle you need to have the best weapons to fight off the enemy.

 We can give Rachel those tools by contributing towards her medical treatment.

She needs this help ASAP. Every little bit helps. If we all give what we can we will make a major difference in her life.
Her only concern right now should be fighting this cancer like the warrior that she is. She shouldn’t have to worry about crushing debt or a dangerous treatment.

 You may not know Rachel personally, but let me tell you, you will never meet a more genuine, loving, hospitable individual.

 You aren’t just saving a beautiful 28-year-old girl’s life, you are saving a devoted daughter, a loving sister, a caring friend, and for me personally; you are saving my dearest and lifelong friend.

 

Please donate and share this with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and anywhere else. 
Thank you in advance!