Support Allyson’s Fight Against Colon Cancer

Chemo treatment #1 complete! (Photo)

I never thought I’d be in this position, but here I am—asking for help when I would so much prefer being the one offering help.

This week, I start chemotherapy to fight the colon cancer that doctors discovered 6 weeks ago. My treatment plan is intense: every other week, I’ll receive chemo at the infusion center, then continue treatment at home with a pump for 48 hours. This cycle will last for six months, during which there is one more surgery expected.

I’ve been at my job for 13 years, and today, I was told that because they no longer offer work-from-home options, they have to move me to part-time hourly status since I have to miss so much time for treatment. This means my salary will be cut by more than half—at best. If the side effects become too much, I may have to take unpaid leave, making things even harder. I have worked here a long time but the lack of benefits is now an issue when before I could overlook it because I liked my job. Because there are less than 20 employees the company is not held to things such as FMLA, etc.

I’ve always been the one to make things work, juggling responsibilities and often working two jobs to ensure my family—and I still have two kids Im helping through college full-time—has what they need. But now, with my income slashed, I have no realistic way to keep everything afloat. In full transparency, it takes everything I earn to keep all the parts moving. The financial stress on top of fighting cancer is overwhelming. I have insurance, but it’s private and not that great, so my deductible costs are adding up very quickly and right now, I just need a break.

I’ve set this goal to not only stop myself from sitting here crying in my car (haha me), but to give myself a chance to not worry during chemo so I can focus on healing. I’ve never put myself first, but I need to and I need help. Any support, whether it’s a donation or a share, means the world to me and my kids.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart♥️♥️