Valerie Dawn's Fight Against Cancer
Donation protected
My Story.
Wow. That's a lot.
2018, August 20th I recieved the phone call. "Valerie, your biopsy confirms you have Triple Negative Breast Cancer." I threw the phone across my dance studio floor and cried. I was in shock and had no idea what to do with the information that I heard. My doctor called me the next day and told me that they would go in and cut it out and all would be good. I thought, wow, its simple. No biggy... and I didn't share my news with anyone.
A few days later a nurse called me, I don't remember anything that she said to me, except "if you don't come in, you'll be dead in less than 5 years" again, my phone went across the dance floor and tears began to roll down my face. I was told that my doctor didn't know what she was saying and there was way more to it than just 'cutting it out.'
I needed to tell my family. I can honestly say I can't remember telling my oldest two children. It's true that when the pain is so much you block it out. I just remember the hugs and the strength of the original 3 musketeers. "We can get thru anything" a bond we had from years of me being a single parent. Next was my husband, his response was one that rang in my ears every night when I went to bed. "Wait, does that mean you are going to go thru chemo and lose your hair?"
Than it was the appointment, first with the surgeon, than the oncologist. They were ready to cut off my knockers and pump me with poison before even taking my blood pressure. Nothing sat right with me. I walked out of the hospital and thought there must be another way.
I ended up at a beloved friends house that told me many ways to heal naturally. Considering that I had a long history of helping others heal naturally this settled with me so much better. I immediately started with every possible natural healing remedy I could find. Diet & Exercise. (I lost 70 pounds in 6 months). Budwig Diet. Essential oils. Vitamin C Infusions. Reiki Healing. Chinese Medicine. Sound Therapy. Rife Machine. Foot Detoxing Bath . Red Saunas. And counciling. I decided at that moment in my life to drop every 'fire' I had ever held onto. Nothing. Nothing was heavier than the tumor in my left breast labeled cancer. Labeled TNBC, the most aggressive breast cancer and the most understudied with no targeted treatment known.
I also began to study cancer, something that I never thought I would. I read every scientific published paper I could about it, bought many books and focused on my type of cancer. I was determined to see a change naturally. The time came, I scheduled my own ultrasound and with great sorrow the tumor had doubled, and the cancer had spread to a lymph node. (The lymph node that was biopsied and originally cleared as NED (no evidence of disease). However as we live in a state that does not have to notify us of risks, the two biopsies connected the tumor to the lymph node and allowed the cancer to travel.
It was time to tell my baby, my youngest that her mother had cancer and it was time to look at conventional ways of kicking cancers ass. That was another step down in the lowest moment of my life, pulling over my car and gently explaining what cancer is and that I have it. We cried, we held each other and than strength grew. With the help of family members I began to put together a team of doctors (both natural & conventional), surgeons and an oncologist that I approved. Chemotherapy started with the aid of natural treatments to curve side effects.
Thru all of this I allowed G.d to determine who was there and who was not. I never turned away anyone, I simply kept charging forward. I began a page to express my frustration, my story to help others, my journey... all the good, the bad and the ugly. Its called (newly named) "Let's talk Life" on Facebook.
My husband stopped working the family business and got a "9 to 5" in order to have insurance for all that was happening.
The amazing community at our family business began to rally around our family in so many ways that I can not even explain my humbleness and gratitude.
Chemotherapy is hard, very hard. I began to focus on me, my health, my mind.
Than life decided to give me yet another curve ball. My husband got fired from his place of employment due to a decision he made and I lost insurance. He left me, our children and our home on June 19th and has not returned.
I was, am heart broken.
The four of us, me and my three children are pulling together to continue to hold strong as I finish chemo, go into surgery, than radiation. Our goal, to NED in 2019!!! OF COURSE!
Not only am I now still fighting cancer, lost my husband (which means a ton of more bill's & responsibilities for me) but I am without insurance. I have been offered cobra at $1575 a month for the next 18 months only. With cobra I get to keep my doctors, my surgeon and my plan. This is extremely important for long term survival rate. Stay the course!
I make this go fund me with a heavy heart. I look to bring no light or shame on anyone, simply awareness of my story, awareness of the financial help that I need.
I am asking for help. Help in any way that fits what you can do.
My Go Fund Me amount is what I will need to pay to maintain Cobra for 18 months plus my deductibles. All money given will go directly to these financial needs. (I also have a paypal: [email redacted]; venmo at valeriedawn13)
If giving to me denies a child in the arts (which is my profession and passion), do not give. They are the future of tomorrow.
If giving financially is not an option, its okay! I'll take prayers, prayer for my family and all the hearts involved.
If you can only give in acts of service, there is a laundry train and meal train for me. Comment and I can direct you to them.
You can also give while getting. My parents raised me to work hard! Support my small business by taking a class or two, purchasing retail or using my space for an event so that I can continue to support my family now as a single Mom. (www.encorepacnw.com)
Lastly, fundraising ideas will always be a yes from me. Spreading awareness to others of cancer is dear to my heart.
Thank you for reading my story. Speak ONLY positive and in good light of all that surrounds me and my family.
Blessings.
Wow. That's a lot.
2018, August 20th I recieved the phone call. "Valerie, your biopsy confirms you have Triple Negative Breast Cancer." I threw the phone across my dance studio floor and cried. I was in shock and had no idea what to do with the information that I heard. My doctor called me the next day and told me that they would go in and cut it out and all would be good. I thought, wow, its simple. No biggy... and I didn't share my news with anyone.
A few days later a nurse called me, I don't remember anything that she said to me, except "if you don't come in, you'll be dead in less than 5 years" again, my phone went across the dance floor and tears began to roll down my face. I was told that my doctor didn't know what she was saying and there was way more to it than just 'cutting it out.'
I needed to tell my family. I can honestly say I can't remember telling my oldest two children. It's true that when the pain is so much you block it out. I just remember the hugs and the strength of the original 3 musketeers. "We can get thru anything" a bond we had from years of me being a single parent. Next was my husband, his response was one that rang in my ears every night when I went to bed. "Wait, does that mean you are going to go thru chemo and lose your hair?"
Than it was the appointment, first with the surgeon, than the oncologist. They were ready to cut off my knockers and pump me with poison before even taking my blood pressure. Nothing sat right with me. I walked out of the hospital and thought there must be another way.
I ended up at a beloved friends house that told me many ways to heal naturally. Considering that I had a long history of helping others heal naturally this settled with me so much better. I immediately started with every possible natural healing remedy I could find. Diet & Exercise. (I lost 70 pounds in 6 months). Budwig Diet. Essential oils. Vitamin C Infusions. Reiki Healing. Chinese Medicine. Sound Therapy. Rife Machine. Foot Detoxing Bath . Red Saunas. And counciling. I decided at that moment in my life to drop every 'fire' I had ever held onto. Nothing. Nothing was heavier than the tumor in my left breast labeled cancer. Labeled TNBC, the most aggressive breast cancer and the most understudied with no targeted treatment known.
I also began to study cancer, something that I never thought I would. I read every scientific published paper I could about it, bought many books and focused on my type of cancer. I was determined to see a change naturally. The time came, I scheduled my own ultrasound and with great sorrow the tumor had doubled, and the cancer had spread to a lymph node. (The lymph node that was biopsied and originally cleared as NED (no evidence of disease). However as we live in a state that does not have to notify us of risks, the two biopsies connected the tumor to the lymph node and allowed the cancer to travel.
It was time to tell my baby, my youngest that her mother had cancer and it was time to look at conventional ways of kicking cancers ass. That was another step down in the lowest moment of my life, pulling over my car and gently explaining what cancer is and that I have it. We cried, we held each other and than strength grew. With the help of family members I began to put together a team of doctors (both natural & conventional), surgeons and an oncologist that I approved. Chemotherapy started with the aid of natural treatments to curve side effects.
Thru all of this I allowed G.d to determine who was there and who was not. I never turned away anyone, I simply kept charging forward. I began a page to express my frustration, my story to help others, my journey... all the good, the bad and the ugly. Its called (newly named) "Let's talk Life" on Facebook.
My husband stopped working the family business and got a "9 to 5" in order to have insurance for all that was happening.
The amazing community at our family business began to rally around our family in so many ways that I can not even explain my humbleness and gratitude.
Chemotherapy is hard, very hard. I began to focus on me, my health, my mind.
Than life decided to give me yet another curve ball. My husband got fired from his place of employment due to a decision he made and I lost insurance. He left me, our children and our home on June 19th and has not returned.
I was, am heart broken.
The four of us, me and my three children are pulling together to continue to hold strong as I finish chemo, go into surgery, than radiation. Our goal, to NED in 2019!!! OF COURSE!
Not only am I now still fighting cancer, lost my husband (which means a ton of more bill's & responsibilities for me) but I am without insurance. I have been offered cobra at $1575 a month for the next 18 months only. With cobra I get to keep my doctors, my surgeon and my plan. This is extremely important for long term survival rate. Stay the course!
I make this go fund me with a heavy heart. I look to bring no light or shame on anyone, simply awareness of my story, awareness of the financial help that I need.
I am asking for help. Help in any way that fits what you can do.
My Go Fund Me amount is what I will need to pay to maintain Cobra for 18 months plus my deductibles. All money given will go directly to these financial needs. (I also have a paypal: [email redacted]; venmo at valeriedawn13)
If giving to me denies a child in the arts (which is my profession and passion), do not give. They are the future of tomorrow.
If giving financially is not an option, its okay! I'll take prayers, prayer for my family and all the hearts involved.
If you can only give in acts of service, there is a laundry train and meal train for me. Comment and I can direct you to them.
You can also give while getting. My parents raised me to work hard! Support my small business by taking a class or two, purchasing retail or using my space for an event so that I can continue to support my family now as a single Mom. (www.encorepacnw.com)
Lastly, fundraising ideas will always be a yes from me. Spreading awareness to others of cancer is dear to my heart.
Thank you for reading my story. Speak ONLY positive and in good light of all that surrounds me and my family.
Blessings.
Organizer
Valerie Dawn Bowder Cooper
Organizer
Beaverton, OR
