Mom's battle with colon cancer

May 11, 2016. This is a date I will remember for the rest of my life for it had the biggest impact on me. It affected me not only emotionally but physically as well. I could not sleep for days, I cried myself to sleep most days after finding out. It was 15 days before my 21st birthday. On that day... I had just gotten news that my mother, the one that was always there for me growing up, my idol, the one and only person I would do anything for, got diagnosed with stage 3B Colon Cancer. It was scary. My whole body was frozen. Stage 3B means it was really close to spreading to other organs in her body. Having stage 4 of cancer causes that, and that is how it becomes fatal for most patients. Luckily, a month before being diagnosed, she was not feeling herself, and began vomiting, which caused me to take her to the hospital. During our visit they found out that she needed to have an emergency colon blockage removal surgery. Once done, the doctor said he needed to send it to biopsy. I say luckily because if she had not shown signs of it earlier, it could have become a much worse type of cancer, and I do not want to even begin imagining life without her. I would not be able to live or function. It would be like losing a very close best friend, or a sister. I could not and will not imagine life without her.
After being diagnosed, she had a meltdown. Then again... who wouldn't? Knowing that if I were to have one as well  right in front of her, she would only feel worse about the news. The second it occurred, due to my knowledge of cancer because of my major in Biology, I talked to her about it. I let her know that there are a lot of survivors and this does not mean it is the end. It would only be the end if she did nothing about it. She did not want to start chemotherapy, she was in denial of it even happening. I feel like this is a common response from most. Nobody wants to know that their OWN body is going against them. It was extremely devastating. The strongest woman in my life, who has not smoked, drank, done drugs, or any of the stuff that "causes cancer", got diagnosed with it. 
The doctor told her that she has to go through 12 chemotherapy sessions, once every two weeks. So far, she is being brave and conquering a little more than half of them. She does not let the hair loss, tingling in her fingers, dry skin, loss of taste, or any other side effects get to her. She is determined to beat the f*ck out of cancer, and I am very proud of how she is handling it.
I did not want to start this fundraiser because I felt as if it was pity, but seeing her financially struggle is also breaking my heart. Her and I live alone together, for she divorced my father when I was 5 because he was not ready to be a real man, and take on responsibilities. Moving on, her workplace covered her insurance, but she is still responsible for copay and some medications and shots, and needed to use her own vacation time to bel able to get paid. Unfortunately, her vacation time was exahausted and she is getting paid only fraction of what she used to get.  She didn't ASK for cancer, it just happened to happen to her unfortunately. She is a proud and strong woman, but even the strongest need help. This situation has been hard on the both of us. I go to school at California State University, Los Angeles and it is my fourth year as a Biology major. I am aiming to go to medical school and become a cardiologist to make money and help others in need, but until then I have so many units I am taking to graduate and so much research to accomplish that I do not have time for a part-time job to help her out. So I have resorted to ask the kind souls out there. I know you exist because good will always conquer evil. So even if there are bad things on this planet, positivity and good people will always make it better.
God or whoever you may believe in, let them bless your lives if you even CONSIDER helping me out.
The reason why I set my goal at $40,000 is because that is the money she is missing from not attending work BECAUSE she has cancer. I find it absurd!
I hope to get to this goal by Valentine's Day because it is her favorite holiday, asides from Christmas, because she loves hearts and anything related to them haha. This is another reason why I would love to go into cardiology. She is my inspiration, and I hope you will help us out.
She does not know I am doing this, so imagine her face when I actually get to help her out for once in my life. She has always been the one helping me, now it is my turn.
Ps. Since I do not have a FaceBook account, I could be reached/found at: @EyeAreRose on Instagram and Twitter. Thank you!