Hello! My name is Malisa, and I've spent the last 20 years making countless memories with my best friend, Rebecca and we aren't done yet! As they say, Best friends make the good times easier and the hard times easier. Never in a million years will you be ready for that phone call that bears bad news. That kind of phone call can change almost everything in an instant. That is precisely what happened when Rebecca answered the phone on December 10th, 2021, only seventeen days before her 39th Birthday.

Let me tell you, when your best friend tells you that she has been diagnosed with cancer, the first thing you want to do is hug them for as long as they will let you. Unfortunately, when you live 1100 miles away, sometimes the most that you can be is the support call. Grateful to be anything she needs, Talking for as long as any day will allow us to, I’ve steadily heard the happiness decline as the struggle strengthens and the unsettling helplessness begins. Suddenly, It hits me that the one thing I can do is the one thing that my best friend needs the most- some peace of mind.

As some of you may know, Rebecca has started her battle against cancer but what you may not know is how it got to this point and how it affects her. If you know Rebecca and Edward, then you know that convincing this incredibly proud family to accept any help was not an easy-peasy pursuit.

“Cancer sucks! I feel hopeless; this is the hardest thing our family has ever endured!”

Those are Rebeccas words. Although she has kept a smile on her face and a sense of normalcy for her children, cancers wrath is starting to take its toll. The fight against cancer is not what terrifies her the most; it's the mere thought of the relentless battle to relinquish rapidly rising medical costs while their household expenses continue to pile in. I’m hoping that with your help, we can ease this stress and concern from her plate.

The back story,

For Rebecca, this unpleasant journey began in her late teens with multiple benign cysts in each breast which were documented regularly over the years. In March of 2020, at the age of 37, Rebecca was scheduled for her first early preventive mammogram. Only two weeks later, all screenings were canceled until further notice due to the global pandemic.

In July 2020, Rebecca moved from Tennessee back to Illinois in the middle of the pandemic with her family. At that time, Edward was under new employment, which unfortunately did not provide immediate insurance, so they entered the Marketplace. After filing, they were placed on a waiting list for IL Medicaid until December 2020, “temporarily covered” for medical services but not yet fully approved. The sad reality is that they could visit the ER for illness or injury but are not officially approved nor assigned an immediate network. To find medical services that accepted temporary coverage was inadequate as the providers they list for you do not take the insurance.

Suppose you haven't personally experienced the debacle of Medicaid's three-ring circus. In that case, it's an uphill battle of cold-calling providers in your area to find a doctor, none of which accept “basic Medicaid.” After finally receiving the official approval in August 2021, they were assigned a network to use….to begin in OCTOBER!

Why does this backstory matter?

In May 2021, months before receiving the official approval, Rebecca noticed that two cysts in her right breast had changed. There are no longer two separate, marble-sized lumps; instead, it’s one massive lump, drastically changing in size to a giant gumball. Months went by as she tried to find a Gynecologist that would allow an appointment with essential Medicaid, and not one of them accepted. Under “temporary coverage,” they are considered a specialist that would need a referral. Again, calling dozens of doctors trying to be seen led nowhere. In the meantime, the lump grew larger and larger, which was now painful. After finally being assigned to a network, the appointment was made that afternoon. Sadly by this time, the lump had grown to the size of a ping-pong ball. Not only painful and more extensive, but had now misshaped her breast while the pain had spread to her underarm.

The first appointment was on November 8th, 2021. The doctor attempted to avoid the look of concern when she initially examined her, but Rebecca's instinct was blatantly aware this wasn't good news. On December 10th, 2021, only seventeen days before her 39th Birthday Rebecca was told she had breast cancer.

Once they were settled in from the move, the ultimate goal was to retain a dual-income household as they had before. Yet, with countless looming unknowns and Rebecca's state of health uncertain accomodating a dual-income wasn't attainable. To survive and thrive on one income in a dual-income world, there are intentional steps with finances and decisions to be taken. Efforts that Rebecca and Edward couldn't anticipate in Cancers timeframe.

After meeting with an Oncologist for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan, is when she was told it was in fact Stage 2, her2 positive ductal carcinoma. At that time, they also strongly insisted against Rebecca working until late fall. Treatment consists of four rounds of chemotherapy, then surgery, followed by radiation, and then the remainder of the year with Herceptin treatments that target the her2 protein which is feeding the cancer. The exact surgery will be determined after chemotherapy. A total mastectomy is strongly advised for the best recovery outcome.

Even though Edward began working with a great company in the Auto Mechanics Union, it’s been a silver lining, a bit of security with great benefits, but the downside is that it takes time to reach the pay scale. Now that the doctors have strongly advised against working until late fall and Edward's income still below scale, it is just barely enough to cover month-to-month bills. Edward is consistently taking on any overtime hours available while also juggling the majority for their children and tending to the care needed for Rebecca.

Rebecca is one of the strongest women you'll ever meet. Still, there is no doubt that these treatments, surgeries and the overall negative impact that a cancer diagnosis has on a family runs deep, from mental and emotional health as their financial hardship becomes too much to bear. They need your help!

Without a doubt, Rebecca is precisely the definition of what a best friend is. Regardless of the times that I regretfully took our friendship for granted, she still stood by me. When I was broken and feeling defeated, she helped me find the capacity to power through. Part and parcel to my life, I wouldn't be here or who I am today if it wasn't for her unwavering friendship. So now I'm here writing this, hoping that we can provide some relief for Rebecca so she can find the capacity to power through. I am hopeful that by the end of 2022, this will be the end of just another chapter.

Our goal as her team of supporters is to alleviate some of this burden so that Rebecca can focus on her recovery so she can get back to being her best for her family. We will continue to utilize this page to update her progress.

Please share Rebecca's story with your friends and family. Rebecca is a fighter and no doubt cancer picked the wrong woman! Any contributions that come through here will not only be used for extra costs associated with treatments, but also towards things we take for granted while we are healthy and feeling our best. These things include six months of household expenses. We appreciate your support and consideration in advance. We ask everyone to please send positive strength, courage and hope to not only Rebecca but also for Edward and their beautiful children as well.