Fight Breast Cancer with Adria

Knowing that breast cancer runs in my mom's side of the family... In April of 2020, my mom felt something was wrong. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of lockdown of the pandemic my mom didn't get checked until June of 2020 that she was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer. From months June to July, my mom was still working overtime as a medical technologist II for Quest Diagnostic in Teterboro, NJ - detecting & analyzing, as well as training other technologists how to run machines and analyze covid-19 molecular testings.

Starting August 6, 2020, was the beginning of her chemotherapy. It definitely wasn't easy for her, and for us to witness and adjust to her every need. Though, we always found a way to make it work and make my mom smile & laugh. We're beyond grateful for the support from close loved ones and friends dropping off gifts, food, and sending thoughtful messages to her. It definitely was a huge help for her to keep moving forward. After completing 4 months of chemotherapy, she was able to move forward to getting surgery in January 2021. After 2 surgery procedures, the mastectomy procedure was successful, but unfortunately, in the 2nd procedure, 14 out of 17 nodules were only removed. My mom then had to undergo radiation therapy as the next step to remove the remaining nodules. Radiation therapy took a month in a half, and thankfully she graduated from that stage on February 25, 2021. She's currently undergoing hormone therapy once a month for 5 years before she reaches remission. 
We're extremely blessed to have known such incredible doctors, nurses, and other medical team members at John Theurer Cancer Center that made these procedures and this entire journey work smoothly. 

The year 2020 was definitely a blessing and curse. It's a blessing that it gave a pause for my dad from commuting to work, a pause for me to take a gap year before going to graduate school, and allowed us to have complete attention, love, and care for my mom at home. 

Unfortunately, her treatments aren't fully covered. Life isn't easy, and certain warriors are given certain battles, but I know she will get through it. My mom remains faithful that she will be healed in time. Still, 5 years left of hormone therapy before she reaches remission, (thinking she can do this alone) I'm asking to raise money for our family, so that she has the time to heal without worrying about finances with her family, my preparation for graduate school this coming Fall term, a fast recovery to head back to work, and so that all medical bills could be covered. My mom DESERVES the world not just because she's my mom, but she's truly one of a kind that I always aspire to be when I grow up as a hard-working & selfless woman, and an incredible mother, sister, and wife. She's always loved and she's everything to me and the family. 

On behalf of the Alfonso family, we would like to thank everyone for all of the love, thoughts, prayers, and support that everyone has shared and continue to share with us during this journey. Together we can get through this. Anything can truly help. God bless you all. 




Mama's favorite bible verse that helped her through this journey: 
Psalm 91:2, "I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"