Sharin' For Sharon!
Donation protected
Hello, my name is T.J. Duckwiler. This year is turning out to be one of the most difficult years of my life. During a routine mammogram, my mom, Sharon, discovered that she has Stage 3C breast cancer. I love this woman more than life and her diagnosis has left me absolutely shattered. My mother is an angel. She has given my brother, my sister, and me a loving home and wonderful childhood memories despite the challenges she faced as a single mother. Never enough time, never enough sleep, never enough money. She sacrificed so much for us and I can honestly say that I do not recall one single time when she complained or felt sorry for herself. She is an amazing, selfless woman.
Her cancer diagnosis has been difficult to bear emotionally and it’s become even more difficult because of money concerns. In August of this year mom took a planned medical leave from her job at Peoria Disposal Company (PDC) to have her knee replaced. She had saved up 4 weeks of vacation days and enrolled in a Short-term Disability plan to replace a portion of her salary while she was recovering from her knee replacement. A month before she was to return back to work, she found out about the breast cancer and it was so severe that within four days, she had to immediately have surgery to remove her right breast. Her finances are tapped, her bi-weekly disability payments of $379 will be ending on 2/13/17, at which point she will absolutely have no income. She will not be able to return back to work until her treatment is finished. Her cancer is aggressive and she will need to receive chemo twice a week until the end of the year. She will then need chemo once per week until the end of March 2017 and then daily doses of radiation until the middle of May 2017.
Her financial situation is desperate. She has been placed on COBRA coverage because she is not able to return to work due to the cancer. Her premiums for her healthcare coverage will cost an additional $800 per month starting November 8. Her insurance plan is changing and starting January 1, her maximum out of pocket costs will double to $6,000. The average cost of initial chemo treatment is estimated to be about $7000. However, costs vary based on the stage of cancer, and the various medicines required. Her living expenses through the end of May are an estimated $8,000. I am hoping to raise $30,000 to cover all of these expenses.
She has been nothing short of amazing in supporting me as I’ve pursued my dreams of becoming a professional musician and now it’s my turn to support her. I have moved back home so I can care for her during her treatments and will be using the savings I have to help her with her bills. It pains me to say that the money I have managed to save while simultaneously being a full-time college student will be helpful, but it will not even begin to touch the mountain of debt she is facing. I have shaved my head so she does not feel like she is in this alone and I will keep shaving my head until she is finally able to grow her hair back. We are in this together.
I am determined to stay positive and will do whatever it takes to make sure she will hang on to the hope that she will beat this disease. I am just at the beginning of this difficult journey with my mom and I really want her to be able to focus on one thing: getting better. I appreciate any help you could give towards meeting our fundraising goal. No amount is too small. And please keep her in your prayers. She needs that most of all.
Her cancer diagnosis has been difficult to bear emotionally and it’s become even more difficult because of money concerns. In August of this year mom took a planned medical leave from her job at Peoria Disposal Company (PDC) to have her knee replaced. She had saved up 4 weeks of vacation days and enrolled in a Short-term Disability plan to replace a portion of her salary while she was recovering from her knee replacement. A month before she was to return back to work, she found out about the breast cancer and it was so severe that within four days, she had to immediately have surgery to remove her right breast. Her finances are tapped, her bi-weekly disability payments of $379 will be ending on 2/13/17, at which point she will absolutely have no income. She will not be able to return back to work until her treatment is finished. Her cancer is aggressive and she will need to receive chemo twice a week until the end of the year. She will then need chemo once per week until the end of March 2017 and then daily doses of radiation until the middle of May 2017.
Her financial situation is desperate. She has been placed on COBRA coverage because she is not able to return to work due to the cancer. Her premiums for her healthcare coverage will cost an additional $800 per month starting November 8. Her insurance plan is changing and starting January 1, her maximum out of pocket costs will double to $6,000. The average cost of initial chemo treatment is estimated to be about $7000. However, costs vary based on the stage of cancer, and the various medicines required. Her living expenses through the end of May are an estimated $8,000. I am hoping to raise $30,000 to cover all of these expenses.
She has been nothing short of amazing in supporting me as I’ve pursued my dreams of becoming a professional musician and now it’s my turn to support her. I have moved back home so I can care for her during her treatments and will be using the savings I have to help her with her bills. It pains me to say that the money I have managed to save while simultaneously being a full-time college student will be helpful, but it will not even begin to touch the mountain of debt she is facing. I have shaved my head so she does not feel like she is in this alone and I will keep shaving my head until she is finally able to grow her hair back. We are in this together.
I am determined to stay positive and will do whatever it takes to make sure she will hang on to the hope that she will beat this disease. I am just at the beginning of this difficult journey with my mom and I really want her to be able to focus on one thing: getting better. I appreciate any help you could give towards meeting our fundraising goal. No amount is too small. And please keep her in your prayers. She needs that most of all.
Organizer and beneficiary
TJ Duckwiler
Organizer
Washington, IL
Sharon Duckwiler
Beneficiary
