Mary Roche Memorial Fund
Donation protected
I am deeply saddened to report that Mary has succumbed to her disease. She passed away on June 13, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial donations be make to this fund instead.
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It is with a very heavy heart that I write this.... My dearest friend and co-worker, Mary Roche is currently fighting for her life. She survived a diagnosis of stage four colorectal cancer in 2007 only to be diagnosed with terminal clear cell endometrial uterine cancer in May of 2016. Mary has always been a strong woman who would rather suffer silently than ask for help from even her closest friends and family.
To begin with, Mary’s husband of fifteen years was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1998. After emergency surgery and a grueling year of chemotherapy he was given the all clear; however, by January of 2000 he had died. Anyone who has had a loved one go through this will attest that it was not fast nor was it pretty. He left behind a son of eleven and a daughter of five. This event devastated Mary, the only thing that kept her going was her two children.
Fast forward to 2007 when Mary was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the same type that had killed her husband. Although it was difficult, she chose to be treated at MD Anderson which was six hours away from her children. Complications from her surgery led to multiple other operations, resulting in the removal of a thigh muscle to patch a hole that would not heal. Throughout her radiation and surgeries she was always there emotionally for her children. She even managed to attend her daughter's horse show and her son’s high school graduation in between surgeries. This was made possible by one of the best employers that allowed her to work from the hospital when she was able. The end result was a colostomy bag and radically reduced mobility. She fought through those obstacles and managed to find a new normal without complaining.
Fast forward once again to 2016 and she was diagnosed with clear cell endometrial uterine cancer. Being the fighter that she is her first questions were “what is it” and “how do we beat it.” However, according to the doctors, the type of cancer is incredibly rare and highly aggressive with an average life expectancy of two years. She is currently getting chemo treatments every three weeks, though the doctors say that they are reaching the pinnacle of what her body can handle. She has lost all feeling in both of her feet, lost almost all of her hair, and has been admitted to the hospital four times in the past six months. Thankfully she has been able to continue working. In addition, one of her children has left college to help take care of her; cooking and driving her to doctor appointments.
Now we come to the part that Mary will not like, she has exhausted all resources and is in need of financial assistance. She has insurance, although the deductible and maximum out-of-pocket expenses are extremely high. Her Cancer insurance lifetime maximum was met in 2007, so there's no more coverage. There are also many personal medical items that insurance will not cover and have been difficult to afford. She has maxed out her credit cards, cashed out her small retirement fund from her previous employer, and still owes multiple hospitals thousands of dollars. On top of all this she is petrified of how she will pay her bills come January 2017.
I asked several times if we could do a GoFundMe campaign, but the answer was always "no, I think I can make it". So, when her children stepped in because they saw the daily mental anguish she was going through while fighting to survive, I was happy to help them start this campaign for their mother in an attempt to help offset some of the current and expected bills. This campaign has been set up so that all donations will go directly to Mary.
No donation is too small, and anything is greatly appreciated. If you can't afford to make a donation, just sharing this page will help!
Thank you to everyone who reads, donates, shares, or prays for this family.
Cindy
**********************************************************
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this.... My dearest friend and co-worker, Mary Roche is currently fighting for her life. She survived a diagnosis of stage four colorectal cancer in 2007 only to be diagnosed with terminal clear cell endometrial uterine cancer in May of 2016. Mary has always been a strong woman who would rather suffer silently than ask for help from even her closest friends and family.
To begin with, Mary’s husband of fifteen years was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1998. After emergency surgery and a grueling year of chemotherapy he was given the all clear; however, by January of 2000 he had died. Anyone who has had a loved one go through this will attest that it was not fast nor was it pretty. He left behind a son of eleven and a daughter of five. This event devastated Mary, the only thing that kept her going was her two children.
Fast forward to 2007 when Mary was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the same type that had killed her husband. Although it was difficult, she chose to be treated at MD Anderson which was six hours away from her children. Complications from her surgery led to multiple other operations, resulting in the removal of a thigh muscle to patch a hole that would not heal. Throughout her radiation and surgeries she was always there emotionally for her children. She even managed to attend her daughter's horse show and her son’s high school graduation in between surgeries. This was made possible by one of the best employers that allowed her to work from the hospital when she was able. The end result was a colostomy bag and radically reduced mobility. She fought through those obstacles and managed to find a new normal without complaining.
Fast forward once again to 2016 and she was diagnosed with clear cell endometrial uterine cancer. Being the fighter that she is her first questions were “what is it” and “how do we beat it.” However, according to the doctors, the type of cancer is incredibly rare and highly aggressive with an average life expectancy of two years. She is currently getting chemo treatments every three weeks, though the doctors say that they are reaching the pinnacle of what her body can handle. She has lost all feeling in both of her feet, lost almost all of her hair, and has been admitted to the hospital four times in the past six months. Thankfully she has been able to continue working. In addition, one of her children has left college to help take care of her; cooking and driving her to doctor appointments.
Now we come to the part that Mary will not like, she has exhausted all resources and is in need of financial assistance. She has insurance, although the deductible and maximum out-of-pocket expenses are extremely high. Her Cancer insurance lifetime maximum was met in 2007, so there's no more coverage. There are also many personal medical items that insurance will not cover and have been difficult to afford. She has maxed out her credit cards, cashed out her small retirement fund from her previous employer, and still owes multiple hospitals thousands of dollars. On top of all this she is petrified of how she will pay her bills come January 2017.
I asked several times if we could do a GoFundMe campaign, but the answer was always "no, I think I can make it". So, when her children stepped in because they saw the daily mental anguish she was going through while fighting to survive, I was happy to help them start this campaign for their mother in an attempt to help offset some of the current and expected bills. This campaign has been set up so that all donations will go directly to Mary.
No donation is too small, and anything is greatly appreciated. If you can't afford to make a donation, just sharing this page will help!
Thank you to everyone who reads, donates, shares, or prays for this family.
Cindy
Organizer and beneficiary
Cindy Rizzato
Organizer
Cypress, TX
Mary Roche
Beneficiary
