Cancer, Pet Surgery & Car Repair

I was diagnosed with breast cancer one year ago this month. I have been coping as best I can, and have gone through a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation. I am still going through testing and MRI’s as I have swelling that they haven’t been able to diagnose or even determine a reason as to why I have this. During all of this, I kept working but my finances were destroyed with medical bills and flying my daughter and grandson out to be with me during my surgery. (I hadn’t seen them in 7 years and found that was better medicine than anything the doctors could give me!) I’ve lost my cell phone service and all of my credit cards were maxed out and are now being paid off on hardship repayment plans. One of the credit companies cancelled my card because I requested the hardship program. I’ve sold off what I can and am unable to get loans due to my nosediving credit scores. And now my dog, my beloved beagle Tucker, needs surgery. He has degenerative disc disease and arthritis and has trouble walking, and at the same time has to have some rotting teeth removed. On top of that, my car needs to be repaired this month so that I can keep the Hawaii safety inspection valid. I’m at a point where I’m afraid I’ll lose my small, studio apartment as well.

There is an old adage, “God only gives you as much as you can handle” but right now it feels too overwhelming and I want to say, “Just take me – I can’t handle any more”.  One more tile and my Jenga tower of a life will come tumbling down.

I have been keeping a YouTube channel (ZebrainParadise), in the hopes of helping someone else who is diagnosed with cancer and has to make the same decisions I had to make regarding chemo and therapy, and to hopefully help them know that the little things they’re going through are “normal”. I have talked some about finances and about not being the strong person everyone thinks I am. I don’t ask for help very often, but I am asking for help now. Any little bit anyone can offer will help – even just a kind word of encouragement would be appreciated.