Facing Brain Seizure with Laughters (Literally)

[Hi, if you have followed Anik's story for a while now, please go straight to "Updates" to read about her brain seizure. Thanks. -Martina, updated 8 Sept 2020]

Hi everyone, my name is Martina. I am fundraising for my godmom who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I want to tell you guys a story about my godmom, Anik. When I was in high school, my friends and I were troubled teenagers. We didn't like to study, nor listen to our teachers. Most of us were lost and hurt, confused and puzzled, with our pre-adulthood problems and questions about life. Anik was our English teacher. We spent a lot of time in her house, learning English, which then extended to sharing and praying time together. 

She showered us with love, she listened to us without judgment, and somehow it changed us. We became more respectful of our teachers, our parents, and we formed a strong bond of friendship with our friends, which last until now. That was 15 years ago.

Anik went to Australia to study in the Bible College with her husband and two twins. Her husband, Heri, works two jobs for the last ten years to support the family, leaving home at 5 AM and back at 7 PM everyday. Her two sons also work two part time jobs each, on top of their study. Anik was also a hardworking person and a faithful servant in church, until she got sick.

Several months ago, Anik was diagnosed with breast cancer and severe fibroid which caused heavy bleeding. She had to go through two surgeries, mastectomy in August 2019 and hysteroscopy in September 2019. After that she went through several chemos. The first one was horrifying because she couldn't afford the steroid injection. It resulted in her extremely low white blood cells and high fever, not to mention brain agitation and all the side effects. She was rushed to emergency and stayed in the hospital for five days. It just breaks my heart! While human body can only cope with as much, her fighting spirit never ceases to amaze me. That's why I chose this title. She still manages to smile with her weak body. She is really fighting this cancer with a smile. She never stops praising God despite the pain, and she always says there is a silver lining behind everything.

I want to fundraise because my godmom is an international student. Her health insurance apparently doesn't cover much of her medical bills, and now we don't know how to pay the bills that keep coming. She is still going through several therapies, and I don't want her to become even more stressed about these bills. I know her family work hard everyday to pay, but I also know that we can only earn as much. I had tried fundraise among all her former students (my high school friends), but the number is just too big. I hope with the power of people you guys can help this lovely family. Please, please help me to ease her pain. She has gone through a lot, I just really want to at least help her recover well.

Thank you so much for reading my story, God bless you all.