Cancer Part 2: Electric Boogaloo

When my sister was born, I told my parents to put her back in the mailbox they found her in. The first few weeks were alright, but then she kept crying and taking away all my precious attention, and I was over the whole ordeal. I couldn't have understood how much she would help shape me into the man I am today. Because of her, I learned patience, how to speak my mind, the importance of sacrifice, and how to accept and love who I am.

I joke that she's the slightly shorter, funnier version of myself to people who haven't met her. I do her an injustice by saying this, and she has always been one hundred percent her own, incredible person. She's hilarious (really, you should meet her), and it doesn't take long to figure that out.

She was diagnosed in May of 2023 with papillary thyroid cancer and shortly after underwent surgery to remove her thyroid. I was out to sea a majority of the year and was unable to be with her through any of this. After a multitude of doctor's visits, she underwent radiation therapy, which seemed to be mostly effective. Since these procedures, her energy levels have drastically decreased, and the surge of new and aggressive allergies became prevalent. These factors led to her losing her job and primary insurance, and she has been unable to see any of her doctors or specialists for some time. She is still pending many follow-up appointments, and the financial strain has affected her housing situation and regular bills. She has already cut out all the luxuries she can to save money and has graciously received help from her wife and their family.

Being active duty in the Navy, there is only so much I can do remotely while in port. She is working a new job that can accommodate her good and bad days. However, it is not enough to both tackle her existing medical debt and allow her to receive the follow-up appointments she needs. I humbly ask for any assistance you can send her way. It is imperative she sees the doctors she needs to, and everything is appreciated.