Yvonne's Breast Cancer Battle Fundraiser

Asking for help is nothing I am used to, but right now I am in a situation where I must lean on my faith, family, and friends for support. I recently had a visit with my oncologist as I do every 3 months since they began to monitor me in 2018 for chronic lymphatic leukemia. Thanks be to God I remain stable from that cancer . At that visit, I mentioned a discomfort in my breast. I explained that for several months now I've been feeling slight pain and discomfort in my left breast. I thought perhaps I had bumped into something but had no bruising. I had allowed for a few weeks to pass and the pain was still consistent. I was immediately sent for a mammogram considering I was diagnosed in 2012 with cancer in that same breast. At that time, I had a lumpectomy along with radiation treatment. I was in remission, until now.

I've now begun to undergo several tests and biopsies and have been diagnosed with a recurrence in the same breast. This time it came back with different components and much more aggressive. I also was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. It's a type of breast cancer that tests positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, which promotes cancer cell growth. This type of cancer can be more aggressive than others because it grows faster.

In the next upcoming weeks, I will be preparing for a double mastectomy (removal of breast) and latissimus dorsi (LD) flap, which is when skin, fat, and the latissimus dorsi muscle (a muscle in the back) are used to reconstruct the breast. During the mastectomy, I will have expanders placed in my chest temporarily for expanding of skin and muscle. Once I've healed from this surgery, I will quickly need to undergo chemotherapy every day for several weeks in hope of killing any remaining cancerous cells. At a later date, I will have a second surgery to remove the expanders from my chest wall and replace them with a very small implant. I am responsible for paying upfront for part of my surgery. I have faith that God provides, and I know He is with me at all times guiding my steps, my surgeons, and this journey.

I have already been billed in the thousands for this journey so far. I am now being told I will need at least $6,000 for the first part of my surgery. I know I will be out of work for weeks and I fear not being able to afford this on my own. Those who know me, know I am not one to ask for help. I have to put my pride aside and allow my circle to give me my flowers while I'm still around to enjoy them. I trust God provides. He has placed amazing people in my life, I know I am not in this alone.

As if life can't come at me any stronger, my left eardrum ruptured on April 12th. Just one day before I was to celebrate my son Nel's 35th birthday, but all is good because his family & friends came through and still made it happen as I wished it to. This unexpected incident caused a little setback as far as my surgery but God is still in control . Both surgeons have coordinated my surgery date for the first week of June. I will have my breast surgeon together with my reconstructive surgeon on deck. Both of them will be performing all surgeries at the same time.

I'm surrendering my body to my Heavenly Father. I am trusting and believing in God and His will. I believe that the same way He brought me from breast cancer in 2012, the same way He has kept me stable from CLL (chronic lymphatic leukemia) since 2018, and in the same way He healed my daughter from ovarian cancer in 2020, I have unwavering faith that He will once again show up STRONG for MY KIDS, MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY FAMILY, and me in 2025

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you to those that have been by my side during these times. Thank you for any support you can provide me. Whether it be a prayer, donation, or even just sharing this, I truly appreciate you.