Natalie's Fight Against Cancer

My name is Roderick W. Santiago, I am raising funds to help my cousin Natalie Matias Laquian with her fight against cancer.  I've known her since I was a child  and she is a good person.  She fought cancer 4 times already and succeeded, but her battle is not over.   

Last February, she was diagnosed for the fifth time and that the cancer has metastized to the bone of her left arm.  I asked her to write the details of her fight with the Big C since she was first diagnosed in 2004.
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" I am Natalie Matias Laquian, 50 yrs old, mother of 4 children. I have 5 grandchildren. I am a single parent.

I was recently diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time. Yes, 5 times!

I was first diagnosed with cancer year 2004, Breast cancer stage 2-B. I was so afraid then...not for myself but for my children, who were so young at that time. How would they cope up without me? How would they be if  I would not survive?  Those were just some of the things that came to my mind. But they are the main reason for fighting this battle. Together with my faith in God and my trust with the doctors, I underwent treatments. I had a bilateral mastectomy and 6 sessions of chemotherapy. 

The most depressing stage was when my hair started to fall off.  I found chunks of hair in my bed, when I woke up; until every single hair was gone. And after taking a bath, I looked at myself in front of a mirror, as if I was looking at an alien, bald with no bumps. But that didn’t stop me from living a normal life.

After more than a year, my husband and I got separated. It was really so hard and painful, but I survived! Good thing that I had all my children with me. And life had to go on for them.

In 2009, I was diagnosed and had it on my sternum or chest bone. Then I had surgery and radiation therapy.  Then I went back to my normal life again, working and raising my children.

The thirsd time was in 2012, I was hit by the big "C" on my right humerus (shoulder). I had oral chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With the financial support of my relatives and friends, and with lots of prayers from my love ones and the people around me, I survived!

 2014 was the fourth time.  I had pain on my left shoulder. So again, I went to my doctor and had a CT Scan.  They found out that I had the cancer returned on my sternum, left shoulder and collar bone.  With the financial help from my relatives and friends, I underwent radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Afterwards, I went back to life, but I don’t have work anymore. Instead, I got myself busy with the church community and doing some social work. I feel a sense of fulfillment doing these things. 

 And recently, in February this year, my left shoulder started hurting and I had a checkup.  They found out that I have bone metastasis.  Now, I cannot move my left arm at all.

 Recently last February, I experienced a severe pain from my left shoulder.  The pain was extending to my arms, hands and up to my fingers.  I had a Bone CT Scan and the doctors found bone metastasis.  

 While going through all these ordeals, I have a strong faith in God, my love for my children and family, the financial support from my family and friends, and my positive outlook in life.  Despite all of these, I still feel so blessed. I am truly blessed because God has surrounded me with loving and generous people. What I’m doing in return is to pray for these people. And I feel so happy every time that they would tell me that I am a blessing and an inspiration to them. I don’t know why or I don’t how, but thank you Lord God!   I am hoping and praying that God will give me another chance this time.”

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The money will be used to help shoulder the cost of her treatment.

She really is a very kind and a humble human being.  She needs your help and any support will truly be appreciated.