Greetings friends & friends I haven’t met yet!

I’m Liz & pictured with me is my son Julian.

We’ve both had to have surgery within 2 months of each other & our co-insurance changed without us realizing it & we’re not in open season so no chance to switch. There was no choice but to go forward but now our family has $10,000 in surgery costs alone, not even including doctor copays or physical therapy.

Julian was injured wrestling for Kennard-Dale High School which necessitated ACL repair & meniscus trim ($5,783.31). He is currently recovering well & working hard in physical therapy twice a week ($45/visit). We had an issue getting insurance to approve his functional brace so he could drive so we paid $645 out of pocket for this so he could start getting back to semi normal teenage life. He works at Chic-fil-A, graduates this year, & is studying to become a certified personal trainer.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March & am scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy in May (estimate $4,142). Depending on the pathology results of tissue removed, additional cancer treatments could be needed. I’m a PA Air National Guard member, work full time at Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), teach yoga, volunteer at a potbelly pig sanctuary, enjoy time with my little sister from Big Brothers Big Sisters, & movie night with the family. Chris & I just celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary in January. My oldest daughter Lily studies Library Science at Kutztown University. So there’s our family (though I left out the furry family members)!

My Air Force coworker asked if I had a Go Fund me & suggested I start one when I told him I hadn’t even thought about it. I cried on the way home that day, I hadn’t thought I needed it until then & it just hit me. It’s hard enough dealing with surgery, cancer diagnosis, then recovery (emotional & physical), but then add the monetary cost of it all & it is overwhelming.

I know money is tight all around so there’s certainly no expectations here, but if I don’t ask then there’s no chance. Thank you for taking the time to read this snip of our story & much gratitude ❤️