Help Vanessa fight stage 3 endometrial cancer.

In October/November 2022, Vanessa started having intense pain in her lower abdomen among other worrying symptoms and her doctors concluded she needed a biopsy and imaging. After undergoing a battery of tests Vanessa was diagnosed with endometrial cancer on January 6, 2023, a mere few weeks into starting a new job.

Surgery was scheduled for February 3rd where she underwent a total hysterectomy and had to take time off work. Because she is still in the probationary period, she did not qualify for FMLA for her month-long recovery after surgery. This has been a financial burden, but one that Vanessa and Michael were able to get through.

However, after the pathology report came back on February 21st, it was determined that Vanessa has Stage 3 Endometrial cancer and will be facing both radiation and chemotherapy. This treatment will last approximately 6-8 months in total. We will know more details after the radiation consultation on February 28th and the Oncology/chemotherapy consultation on March 3rd.

At the beginning of this horrific journey, Michael was laid off from his contracting job at Google which left no severance. With Michael fervently looking for jobs, and Vanessa on leave due to surgery and because of the coming radiation and chemotherapy, you can imagine the financial situation they are facing.

Through our most recent visits and conversations, Vanessa is facing the possibility of having to work through radiation and chemo to stay afloat. I have set the fundraising goal at the bare minimum they will need for Vanessa to get through radiation and chemo without having to return to work. Even if she were to try and work through treatment, she would still need to take significant time off.

Anything you can contribute would be helpful to both Vanessa and Michael.

Note: Please direct all questions to the organizer: Carol-Lynn Perez. I can be reached through phone, text and social media channels.