A Tale of 2 Warriors

Hi everyone, it’s Jeff. I’m here to ask for your support and love for one of my favourite persons. She’s one of my best friends, a mighty fierce mother, and woman with character and a heart of gold. She’s my sister, Rhonda.

Last summer Rhonda started to feel off, more tired, more weak then usual. If you know Rhonda, you know her daily is already most of those raising a child with complex needs. So when it became unusually draining, Rhonda went and requested a full check up. As you can imagine with the pandemic and being a single parent, she hadn’t focused on her own health for sometime, also being so consumed with the care of her son; he’s always been her focus and priority.

On top of routine lab work, additional tests such as PET scans, CT scans and an MRI were ordered once abnormal results came back from an endoscopy. Rhonda was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Tumors. The additional tests discovered tumours growing on her ribs and on lymph nodes.

They are rare and they have been found in her stomach. There is no permanent cure for this type of cancer. Treatment and surgeries are necessary to prolong life. Rhonda goes for surgery on May 30th, 2022 to have the tumours in the stomach removed. They will be removing a large portion of her stomach to accommodate the amount they have found. It is unfortunate that it is inevitable that they will return but most likely on different organs.

Surgery is to remove and to prevent the growth and spreading; Metastasizing. Her oncologist states it’s essentially just buying her more time.

As some of you may know, Rhonda has a son that endured a massive stroke within his first days of life. Rhonda raises her son alone and is unable to work, due to the magnitude of care that her son requires. My nephew requires constant observation as he has epilepsy, cerebral palsy and autism. He requires a lot of physical care which will forever become more challenging for Rhonda.

As you can imagine a cancer diagnosis is hard to imagine, one with a child that is solely dependent on you for literally everything is unimaginable. Rhonda’s concern is the quality of care for her sweet boy. To be here for him.

This becomes another challenge for her. Expenses are already stretched with a basic support system from the government. My nephew’s therapy is also costly on a reduced income. Which is crucial for his development and growth. This cost has always weighed heavy with Rhonda. She has previously created a GoFundMe for him. Thank you to everyone that has and continues to support him at REYU.

What the future holds for Rhonda, we don’t know. What I do know is that she is resilient and strong; she will push forward as she has done for the last several years. I hope to make the journey a little less stressful for her.

Rhonda would like the opportunity to seek alternate methods of medicine to help reduce the tumors and maintain a long and healthy life for her and her son.

She’s spent the last seven years taking care of her son, and now she needs the help and the care.

After surgery, Rhonda will not be able to care for her son as what’s required. Major abdominal surgery requires time for recovery. Family and friends are doing their best to assist with what they are able to. The majority of family live out of town, and would need to take time off work to help. Rhonda will need to seek someone to help, not only herself, but to help maintain the routines her son requires to achieve growth and development within the barriers of his own challenges. There has been additional emergency government funding for her son, but it’s short and temporary. The amenities and programs set up in Edmonton for her son prevent her from being able to move closer to family.

If I can, with all your help, contribute to her care, my nephew’s care and make their lives just a little easier, I’ll know that I did my best to not let her down as her brother; her friend ❤️

All funds raised, outside of the minimal amount of government funding, will be going toward additional costs with professional care aides, fuel to drive her son to school, maintenance costs on a vehicle which is not suitable for a child with a wheelchair, potential relocation costs to a more suitable living arrangement for both of them.

I believe in community, we all need to look out for one another. I have helped many people and families with their own challenges over the years, and now I’m asking for your help. Thank you