Please help Carla Mae fight stage 4 breast cancer
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Carla Mae. I'm 34 years old. I'm a stage 4 terminally ill breast cancer patient. I have been fighting my disease since March 2013 until present time. I have received surgeries to my breast, underarm, neck and had my ovaries removed. I have had 109 radiation treatments. I have received 9 lines of chemical therapy to date which include Tamoxifen, Letrozole, Everolimus, Examestane, Fulvestrant, Palbociclib, Abraxane, Capecitabine and Eribulin. These were given to me orally, intravenously or subcutaneously. I also have a Port-A-Cath to help with the administration of these drugs, blood work and medical imaging scans (like receiving CT dyes).
I have recently been removed from immunotherapy clinical trials as I was deemed unwell to continue with the study.
I am now at home receiving home care. I am currently on nerve pain killers, steroids and Hydromorphone (a type of pain killer) to help control the pain. I also suffer from right sided tinnitus, lymphedema on my right arm and hand as well as face and torso. I also have neuropathy in both lower and upper extremities. These are complications due to radiation, chemotherapies and surgeries. I am also a type 2 diabetic patient as a side effect from previous chemotherapies.
I have stopped working at my full time job as a medical imaging administrative staff. I was devastated to leave work as I enjoyed helping my patients and being surrounded by supportive colleagues. It gave me a sense of purpose in life, normalcy and independence. Not being able to go about my day as a normal person has been a challenge that I've had to deal with since my initial diagnosis. I'm used to being the one to give help rather than ask for it, which is why this is so difficult for me to do. But I realize that we are all humans. We exist not to function as independent beings, but as a community helping each one another.
This is an example of my typical day going to an appointment. I walk to the bus stop with my oxygen tank and CADD pump for my Hydomorphone. It takes me 30 minutes to walk to the nearest Oakville bus stop. It used to be a 5-10 minutes walk. After waiting 30-45 minutes, the Oakville bus takes me Oakville GO station where I transfer to take the Lakeshore East GO train to travel to downtown Toronto Union station. With the assistance of the wheelchair service of the GO transit I am dropped off at the TTC station where I make my way to Queens Park station ( Princess Margaret Hospital) or Lawrence station to take the 124 bus to Sunnybrook Hospital. After all my appointments are done I make the same trip going back home. When there is snow and it is too cold outside, instead of taking the Oakville bus going home, I take a cab as I'm afraid of getting another fracture. I've already slipped and fractured my finger while falling on ice while walking on my street. I do this by myself because I'm unable to drive due to the types of medications I take and my mother doesn't know how to drive.
I live with my mother who is a widower (dad passed away in November 2013 while I was receiving the first set of my radiation treatments) and works full time. She is a dedicated breast imaging technologist who loves her work and enjoys helping her patients. In fact, it was my mother who found my cancer. I would not make it this far without her care and support.
The doctors had given me 1-2 months to live. Instead of shopping for Christmas gifts I am currently looking around for a hospice at Palliative Care unit and planning my own funeral.
This is one of the most difficult things for me to ask. I know it is the holidays and it's supposed to be a time of happiness and positivity but for someone like me it is full of worries. My disease not only has taken over my life but it has cost me and my family financial strain. The savings that I had set aside for my masters degree have been depleted. I currently receive long term disability assistance from the government amounting to $ 684.34 on a monthly basis. With today's time I am living under the line of poverty. However, I have been fortunate enough to have my sister and brother-in-law help me and my mother with daily expenses.
I'm being as transparent as possible, as I know that financial resources are important for everyone especially during this time of the year. But in the spirit of the holidays I'm asking you to find it in your hearts to please help me ease the financial burden off of my family.
Since I don't have insurance coverage, your generosity will be going to hospice care which I have been told could cost from $2,000 - $ 4,000 a month for a room alone or shared space, this is not including other miscellaneous expenses like medications and other services that the hospice may provide. Some funds will also go to medications not covered by Trillium, transportation (e.g. cab fare for emergency purposes), physiotherapy/massage therapy for my lymphedema and other daily liv necessities.
Funds will also cover funeral costs, which average to about $12,000.00 to $ 25,000.00 depending on where and how I'll be buried.
Should your donations exceed the amount that I'm raising of $ 150,000.00 ( one hundred and fifty thousand dollars), I intend to donate the remainder to the chemotherapy unit at Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Hospital who continuously work to help patients like me. I sincerely hope that these patients and their families have a second chance at life with the help of your generosity.
If you are unable to help in a monetary way I completely understand. There are other ways to help me.
You can help by posting my link on social media by helping me spread the word and tell my story.
Thank you for your time, kindness and sincerity.
With blessings,
Carla Mae
Please note that all funds will be used for Carla Mae's medically related expenses and future funeral costs. These funds will be collected and managed by Thelma Matriano, her mother, on behalf of Carla Mae, as per her wishes. Thank you.
I have recently been removed from immunotherapy clinical trials as I was deemed unwell to continue with the study.
I am now at home receiving home care. I am currently on nerve pain killers, steroids and Hydromorphone (a type of pain killer) to help control the pain. I also suffer from right sided tinnitus, lymphedema on my right arm and hand as well as face and torso. I also have neuropathy in both lower and upper extremities. These are complications due to radiation, chemotherapies and surgeries. I am also a type 2 diabetic patient as a side effect from previous chemotherapies.
I have stopped working at my full time job as a medical imaging administrative staff. I was devastated to leave work as I enjoyed helping my patients and being surrounded by supportive colleagues. It gave me a sense of purpose in life, normalcy and independence. Not being able to go about my day as a normal person has been a challenge that I've had to deal with since my initial diagnosis. I'm used to being the one to give help rather than ask for it, which is why this is so difficult for me to do. But I realize that we are all humans. We exist not to function as independent beings, but as a community helping each one another.
This is an example of my typical day going to an appointment. I walk to the bus stop with my oxygen tank and CADD pump for my Hydomorphone. It takes me 30 minutes to walk to the nearest Oakville bus stop. It used to be a 5-10 minutes walk. After waiting 30-45 minutes, the Oakville bus takes me Oakville GO station where I transfer to take the Lakeshore East GO train to travel to downtown Toronto Union station. With the assistance of the wheelchair service of the GO transit I am dropped off at the TTC station where I make my way to Queens Park station ( Princess Margaret Hospital) or Lawrence station to take the 124 bus to Sunnybrook Hospital. After all my appointments are done I make the same trip going back home. When there is snow and it is too cold outside, instead of taking the Oakville bus going home, I take a cab as I'm afraid of getting another fracture. I've already slipped and fractured my finger while falling on ice while walking on my street. I do this by myself because I'm unable to drive due to the types of medications I take and my mother doesn't know how to drive.
I live with my mother who is a widower (dad passed away in November 2013 while I was receiving the first set of my radiation treatments) and works full time. She is a dedicated breast imaging technologist who loves her work and enjoys helping her patients. In fact, it was my mother who found my cancer. I would not make it this far without her care and support.
The doctors had given me 1-2 months to live. Instead of shopping for Christmas gifts I am currently looking around for a hospice at Palliative Care unit and planning my own funeral.
This is one of the most difficult things for me to ask. I know it is the holidays and it's supposed to be a time of happiness and positivity but for someone like me it is full of worries. My disease not only has taken over my life but it has cost me and my family financial strain. The savings that I had set aside for my masters degree have been depleted. I currently receive long term disability assistance from the government amounting to $ 684.34 on a monthly basis. With today's time I am living under the line of poverty. However, I have been fortunate enough to have my sister and brother-in-law help me and my mother with daily expenses.
I'm being as transparent as possible, as I know that financial resources are important for everyone especially during this time of the year. But in the spirit of the holidays I'm asking you to find it in your hearts to please help me ease the financial burden off of my family.
Since I don't have insurance coverage, your generosity will be going to hospice care which I have been told could cost from $2,000 - $ 4,000 a month for a room alone or shared space, this is not including other miscellaneous expenses like medications and other services that the hospice may provide. Some funds will also go to medications not covered by Trillium, transportation (e.g. cab fare for emergency purposes), physiotherapy/massage therapy for my lymphedema and other daily liv necessities.
Funds will also cover funeral costs, which average to about $12,000.00 to $ 25,000.00 depending on where and how I'll be buried.
Should your donations exceed the amount that I'm raising of $ 150,000.00 ( one hundred and fifty thousand dollars), I intend to donate the remainder to the chemotherapy unit at Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Hospital who continuously work to help patients like me. I sincerely hope that these patients and their families have a second chance at life with the help of your generosity.
If you are unable to help in a monetary way I completely understand. There are other ways to help me.
You can help by posting my link on social media by helping me spread the word and tell my story.
Thank you for your time, kindness and sincerity.
With blessings,
Carla Mae
Please note that all funds will be used for Carla Mae's medically related expenses and future funeral costs. These funds will be collected and managed by Thelma Matriano, her mother, on behalf of Carla Mae, as per her wishes. Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
CarlaMae Matriano
Organizer
Oakville, ON
Thelma Matriano
Beneficiary
