Help Mallory with the cost of living with cancer
Donation protected
This time last year I found out I had stage 2b cervical cancer, which was spreading fast. It was past the point of surgery so I needed to have chemotherapy alongside radiation therapy. In that moment, I had everything I had worked so hard for, taken away from me.
I was a full time student, working towards a degree in marine biology and I had a part time job as a waitress/bartender at Flagship cruises and events. I also had just met the love of my life. My only problems were trying to get my moms immigration documents in order so that she could finally come back home to San Diego. I was as happy as could be, busy living life to its fullest. But life had other plans for me.
The constant pain and bleeding had already interfered with school and work, but the diagnosis meant I could no longer do either because cancer was now my full time job. I was forced to accept help from the government and recieved disability insurance which is only 60% of my already small income. My savings didn’t last long after that.
It has been so hard physically and mentally. I went from planning my life for the long haul to the reality that tomorrow is not guaranteed. So much has been taken from me. I will not be able to have children of my own, my degree seems so far away, I cannot go back to work and I can’t even think about being able to afford an immigration lawyer for my mother. I can’t travel and I can barely leave my house, I’ve only just started to be able to go up the stairs to get to the kitchen in my house!
So far, I have completed chemo and radiation and the cancer is gone!!! But the radiation destroyed all of the surrounding organs. I nearly died three times before we finally figured that out. At this point in time, I have at least two major surgeries to go through before I can start to be positive about my future again. I’m happy to say that this is the first month this year, that I have not been rushed to the emergency room. Everyday is still a painful struggle but I try my best to have a positive attitude. Crying only once a day is a big win for me!
I am now at a point where I have to pick and choose which bills are most important because 60% of part time wages does not cover my living expenses anymore. I’m not the type of person to ask for help, but this year has been full of things I’m uncomfortable with and asking for help is a lot less painful than anything I’ve been through this year.
I was a full time student, working towards a degree in marine biology and I had a part time job as a waitress/bartender at Flagship cruises and events. I also had just met the love of my life. My only problems were trying to get my moms immigration documents in order so that she could finally come back home to San Diego. I was as happy as could be, busy living life to its fullest. But life had other plans for me.
The constant pain and bleeding had already interfered with school and work, but the diagnosis meant I could no longer do either because cancer was now my full time job. I was forced to accept help from the government and recieved disability insurance which is only 60% of my already small income. My savings didn’t last long after that.
It has been so hard physically and mentally. I went from planning my life for the long haul to the reality that tomorrow is not guaranteed. So much has been taken from me. I will not be able to have children of my own, my degree seems so far away, I cannot go back to work and I can’t even think about being able to afford an immigration lawyer for my mother. I can’t travel and I can barely leave my house, I’ve only just started to be able to go up the stairs to get to the kitchen in my house!
So far, I have completed chemo and radiation and the cancer is gone!!! But the radiation destroyed all of the surrounding organs. I nearly died three times before we finally figured that out. At this point in time, I have at least two major surgeries to go through before I can start to be positive about my future again. I’m happy to say that this is the first month this year, that I have not been rushed to the emergency room. Everyday is still a painful struggle but I try my best to have a positive attitude. Crying only once a day is a big win for me!
I am now at a point where I have to pick and choose which bills are most important because 60% of part time wages does not cover my living expenses anymore. I’m not the type of person to ask for help, but this year has been full of things I’m uncomfortable with and asking for help is a lot less painful than anything I’ve been through this year.
Organizer
Mallory Elizabeth
Organizer
Vista, CA
