Susan (Buckles) Thomas MemorialFund

Friends, family, everyone, I need your help. My mom, Susan Buckles Thomas, has come to an abrupt end of her journey here on Earth. She’s expected to only have a few days left. At only 60 years old, in February of 2018, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma which is an aggressive and deadly Stage 4 brain cancer. She had 80% of the tumor removed on March 5th, 45 chemo treatments and 33 radiation treatments which she started on April 17th and completed on June 1st. On June 6th I had to call an ambulance because she could no longer stand or support herself. They saw she had fluid on her brain so she was transferred to OU Medical. She was there June 7th through July 13th receiving care for multiple infections and having a tube inserted into her brain to drain the extra fluid. When she continued to decline and the MRI showed growth of the tumor, it was obvious it was the cancer. She went to a rehab facility for a few days before it was realized she wasn’t going to improve, especially since she stopped eating.

She’s now home with me on hospice and only has days left. She doesn’t have life insurance and I’ve gone through all my savings while being home caring for her these past months. I’m an only child and I lost my dad to cancer when I was 15. My mom is my best friend, my roomie, the light of my life, my whole world. We’ve never lived apart. First for financial reasons, then just because we enjoyed living together. I never in a million years would have thought I’d be losing my mom so soon, nor to such a cruel disease. I’m 30 years old, single, broke, and scared. I want my mom to have the proper burial and memorial she deserves. That’s what I want the most. But I’m a self-employed pet sitter and I don’t know what I’m going to do for work now since I won’t have my mom’s income to share bills with. After August, I won’t have anything to pay rent or utilities or anything. I just pray something works out to where I can have enough to pay rent and utilities for maybe 3 months or less so I can have time to grieve and pack and not have to immediately start couch surfing.

It’s been an absolute blessing to have my mom home. When she came home on the 20th she was more coherent, doing her “final rally” as they call it. They wheeled her in, I said, “Hi Momma,” and she said, “hi” back. I hadn’t heard her voice in over a month because she had been nonverbal and mostly unresponsive. I wrapped my arms around her, gave her kisses and asked, “Are you glad to be home?” And she replied, “Finally.” The fact that she could understand and respond like that was amazing. That evening I asked her if she was happy and she said yes. The next morning I woke up from sleeping on the love seat next to her hospital bed. I looked up at her and she looked over and me and said, “I love you.” And that was the best morning ever after not having her home for 44 days. But now I’m doing the hardest part and I really need financial support. I’ve never done anything like this, but I’ve put it off until the last minute. I just want to thank those who donate in advance. Even $5 is a tremendous help right now, and I appreciate anything. I’m sleep deprived so I hope I set this up correctly. And thank you for reading. God bless.

Jessica