Im a native New Yorker moved to VA in the year of 2003 and married my husband who was in the marines and now is in the army. I also have my mother living with us since she couldn’t make it on her own also my father died in 2001 of stage 4 lung cancer. My parents have been seprated for over 5 years before he gained his wings. I started a life here in va met so many great people also my first job was working at Minnieland in Central Park and moved onto banking for more of my time during that time I worked serval part time jobs as well as banking witch was my full time job. I was an healthily person alway active and ready to go and explore. During the year my husband and myself had ups and down but nothing stop us we kept pushing forward and we finially bought a home had a somewhat of a comfortable lifestyle. I started working for ATT corporate after I decied to leave banking. I had the great 5 years with ATT I was happy living life and what could go wrong? Well, I started notcing things were changing in myself in 2015 at first i thought ok this was a one time thing, but it kept happening so I seek medical, I went to visit with a Dr in town and I explained what was going on he mention stop eating mints and wearing skinny jeans, So that was its. A few months went by things start acting up , so I went to another dr and they said I had a stomach bug nothing to worry about, So I said ok, Again things weren’t right and now its 2016 of May so I noticed more of the ongoing issue. I went to the another doctor and they done exams multiple times and they said it was an hemrroird , So of course I was happy great let’s fix it so they said in time it will heal. I will never forget my gut saying hey it more than just a hemorrhoid but who am I ? Im not a doctor and I trust my doctor and what they tell me. On oct 2017 I knew it was more than a hemmorid I was just scared to say it the work “C” I went to the doctors since I was going every other month for the same issue and demand a colonoscopy and I told them to set it up in December since I knew my new heath insurance would renew. December 5,2017 I woke up to a different life a different me, when the doctor said it’s cancer stage 3 when I looked at him I was so mad and hurt because this is the man that said I have nothing to worry about and I took his word and trust. Now my life at the age of 39 is has changed forever it will never be the same again, I came home looked at my mom and said mom it’s cancer and don’t cry it will be ok, Im an only child and she has no one besides my husband. I walked into my home and looked around and I said I need to go to church and just sit and speak to God and Jesus from the heart. As I was sitting there I felt my heart calm as if I was being comfort and letting me know it will be ok. All the fun started I met with so many doctors and ran so many test i didn’t know what was going on or my husband this was new to us. After meeting so many doctors ii went to INOVA and met my surgeon and meet an ONC that I feel inlove with them, I did 8 weeks of radiation 5 days week plus chemo, May 2018 had my first Surgery I was terrified and felt bad since my husband was alone in the waiting area . Work up with a temporary bag had that for 8 weeks and a nurse would come everyday to help me July 2018 another surgery to remove the bag followed by chemo , I wanted to return to work In September and my doctor called me up saying cancer is now in the liver so has to get another surgery in the live and I was told no more work since now I’m stage 4 terminal cancer since it also spread to the lung with another surgery. I have at least 20 surgeries including biopsy also an emergency surgery a mass was growing and could have shut all my organs down. Ive been on chemo for 5 years I have many issues going on but I’m alive and fighting the hard battle I pray a lot and I keep my faith very deep. My life now is not what is was I can’t really go places for too long or do what much since I do have bowel accidents on myself i also have what is called white matter disease it can lead in demancha I have scans every other month follow by blood work and visit with the ONC every 3 weeks also I have to continue to take chemo forever and hope that it will continue to work. I cant walk no more than 10 mins I get very tired and also I have many days when I have burning pains that I can’t do nothing because the pains are so bad I cry and can’t function or walk this happens muilptuple times a week they said its the highest degree of burns from radiation inside the colon and not much you can do. My day to day life now is unknow i can have an OK day . My ok pains are not as bad and muscles don’t cramp up and light burns also no bowel accidents, I alway push myself to get up and move forward and keep fighting I will never stop im very lucky that I have a chance to live in this life God gave us a gift While I know Im God child I will forever safe and I don’t allow cancer scared me and I do my best to live my new life as much as possiable, I know I can’t be the person I was, Im the person I am now and I will accpect who I am and I will share my love and my strength with others and tell them it’s ok we are God children and he knows our plans. I lost a lot many friends that I thought they were friends and I was OK with it because I had my fur babies and mom and Husband and yes we struggle and we hurt since we lost a lot of income and bills were racking up but never lost hope and faith and met an amazing man Chuck that has help myself and family for years I call him my angel and now he’s family, When growing up my life was not so great my mom worked hard my dad was an alcoholic and didn’t work and many days and weeks we would have no food or power since it was only my working and he would steal her money and drink it away and she couldn’t pay rent on time. My moms life was a tragic one absused rape and was kicked on the streets but she was my mom and always had me on her side and we lived in the streets and overcame it because we never give up on faith and we continued to fight as I am doing it now and I will fight forever. My husband and I always wanted children but couldn’t so we wanted to do forester care and we were approved but the cancer stop it since the forester care said we need a letter from the ONC if I was going to make and the ONC couldn’t write the letter since I live day by day. I have fur babies and they are my kids and I couldn’t have it any other way I say they’re Gods angles and they are here to keep me going. In addition the cancer has returned to the liver I have 11 tumors they can not perform surgery since it’s too risky I continue treatments this is the only thing I have left to do I have no other options left praying this treatment I’m on will add more life time for me. I fell into a bind with medical expenses as well co- payments for my chemotherapy pills that I have to pay $120 a bi-weekly. I fell into a hole and I’m seeking help if anyone could help this would be a blessing this would catch me up on co-payments and my chemotherapy.
