Help Rhonda Heal

My sister Rhonda has breast cancer and she needs help. These are words that have been very difficult for me to accept, let alone say or write. But I had to learn to write it quickly, because this cancer diagnosis, that came as such a sudden shock to us all, is a serious one and no time can be wasted.

The exact diagnosis is inflammatory breast cancer, a rare form that not only grows tumors in the breast, but also causes pain, swelling and inflammation to the areas as well. As if this isn’t bad enough, it is also
accompanied by a painful rash that is very difficult to relieve or treat.
We all knew it was serious when within a week of diagnosis, the doctor had already recommended a treatment plan that included weeks of chemo, then radiation, then Surgery. And, he wanted the treatment to start by the next week.

 My sister accepted this diagnosis with the same strength and grace with which she has accepted every challenge in her life, and there have been many, many more than most people would have been able to deal with. You see, she is no stranger to illness. She has had juvenile diabetes and all of the myriad of problems that come with it since she was seven years old, learning to give herself insulin shots multiple times a day in her thighs, arms or stomach.

Growing up, she never wanted anyone to know about her illness, because she never wanted pity or to be treated differently than other children. But she was different, when any other child got injured or got a virus, they healed normally in a short time, but not my sister, healing was always a challenge, and colds or infections could wreak havoc. When she was fifteen, she got mono and almost died. She had to be put in the hospital in a quarantined room. Other difficulties too numerous to mention continued to occur throughout her life due to her diabetes.

Through all this, she strove to live as normal a life as possible; she got married and had two wonderful sons, even though it was a great risk for her. She not only managed all of these things admirably, but also became a person that everyone else turned to for help. She is the strong one that everyone turns to- so often unaware of how delicate she is because of her unwaveringly strong and positive demeanor. She always goes out of her way to help her friends and delights in doing special things for them like crafting beautiful cakes and desserts for their special occasions.

 Despite all of this, a few years back my sister was diagnosed with another serious disease, Lupus. The combination of both diabetes and lupus is not only rare, but very difficult to treat. Most attempts to treat one of the diseases, usually results in worsening the other. And now she must struggle with breast cancer as well.

 Now the beautiful person that I have always admired, and that helped everyone else, never asking for anything in return, is unable to work.  Now it is her who needs our help.  But I know even with her present condition, she would never ask, so I am asking for her by setting up this fund in hope that  $25, 000  can be raised so she can afford to continue getting the treatment she needs, not only for her breast cancer, but for her other illnesses as well.