Linda's Cancer Journey

On November 11th, 2018, my Mom was rushed to the hospital with severe bleeding from an unknown source.  After multiple tests, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer and began immediate treatment.  For the past year, she has had 4 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 radiation treatments with combined chemotherapy, and several hospital stays and surgeries.  In August 2019, she underwent colon resection and colostomy surgery, and the surgeon was very optimistic that all of the cancer was removed and that no further treatment would be needed.          We are thankful and grateful that throughout this whole journey, Mom's prognosis has continued to be good and that she has kept such a positive outlook.  Last week, Mom had her first scans following surgery.  Thankfully, the scans came back clear, but she was informed that the oncologist wants her to do 6 more rounds of chemo for precautionary reasons and to prevent recurrence.  Although we are so fortunate she is cancer free, the financial aspect of this disease has taken a toll on my parents.           In July of 2017, my dad had to retire after 50 plus years as a barber.  He loved his job more than any person I have ever known, but had to give it up after his congestive heart failure almost took his life and landed him in the hospital in Galveston for two weeks.  In order to survive financially, my parents relied on their savings.  My dad's medical bills were already putting a huge strain on them.  Then, in August (shortly after Dad was released from the hospital), Hurricane Harvey hit and they lost their house to flooding.  Mom and Dad lived with us for one year, and a month after finally getting their house repaired, Mom was diagnosed with cancer.  Knowing how financially strained they already were after my dad's health problems and the hurricane, we wanted to set up fundraisers to help them out.  My mom and dad were thankful we wanted to help, but have always been hardworking people who do not want to take from other hardworking people.  So they declined and were determined to rely on the rest of their savings to make it through the costly treatments.            Now that Mom has learned she will need even more treatment for the second holiday season in a row, she has accepted that they could really use some financial help.  Times are tough for so many people right now, and asking for assistance is the last thing they wanted to do.  If you can help financially it would be appreciated, but the greatest help my mom could receive is your prayers.  Her constant, unwavering faith has been an inspiration to our family and we thank all of you who have kept her going with your love and prayers.