Hello, I am a 46 mom of two teenagers and a wife of a 100% disabled wartime veteran. I have been the main provider since my husband became disabled almost 7 years ago.
On September 19, 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, the day after I lost my job due to a cut back for financial reasons.
Currently I have borrowed from everyone possible. Family, friends, even my teenage boys. I have had many people help me. I had my bilateral mastectomy on October 17th, where they found that I am at a stage 2B cancer and it was found in my lymph nodes. Currently I am on my 2nd dose of 16 weeks of intense chemo which will be followed by 6 weeks/5 days a week of radiation, since the pathology reports showed the cancer in the surrounding tissue. I am unable to even try to find a job and I need the money so that we could continue to survive.
Yesterday while trying to do a simple thing, like getting a frying pan out of the oven to scrambble myself some eggs, my expander broke in my chest. Now I have to face that pain on Monday when I go to my reconstructive surgeon. I am so sorry I ever started to do this.
The veterans association has helped me out tremendously and it is because of them I was able to keep my home. The Salvation Army, OMG, THEY ARE THE BEST! They have helped in more ways than I can possibly begin to explain.
My family, cooks for us, cares for my children, take them whenever they need to go somewhere.
With the holidays right around the corner, I would love to be able to buy my children something, anything to put under the Christmas tree for them to find on Christmas morning. We have always been very fortunate and this is something we definitely are not used to doing. Asking for help for holiday presents is so opposite from what we usually do. We are usually buying and donating presents to all kinds of organizations and my sons are used to throwing the money into the sidewalk Santa buckets with no problems. This year, I have my problem of not being able to buy them any gifts. Does anyone have any suggestions of where I could possibly find a few dollars to get them something special?
Thank you for anything you could do and God Bless all through the holidays. Be grateful for what you have and not for what you dont have. This year my children will receive no gifts, but they say they are grateful for God allowing their mom to be with them through another holiday during their years of growing up.
GOD BLESS!
Joyce
