Flock This! Betsy's Battle with Breast Cancer

Hi Everyone! My name is Lindsey, and I, along with a group of Betsy's friends, are organizing this fundraiser to help ease the financial stress of battling breast cancer. Betsy discovered a lump in the fall of 2021 and received her triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis in December 2021. She is currently undergoing twelve rounds of Paclitaxel chemotherapy treatment in Houston, TX, then four rounds of AC followed by a double mastectomy surgery this summer. She might receive additional chemotherapy with the potential of radiation treatment after surgery.

Betsy's nickname is Red for a reason. Her natural red hair and fiery personality ignite connections with people wherever she goes. She is one of the strongest women I know. Betsy served as my cadre my first year at Mary Baldwin College and the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership/VWIL Corps of Cadets in Staunton, VA. I had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of many, many sets of push-ups, flutter kicks and various other physical tasks. But I also found myself on the receiving end of her outstanding leadership and her never-ending motivation to push myself further than I thought possible. Betsy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated on August 17, 2001, before 9/11, because she felt the call to serve her country. Her unit was activated to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. During this time, Betsy stayed stateside and supported her unit from Washington, D.C., while completing training that would help her prepare for her deployment to Iraq in 2005. Despite being activated from reserve duty while in college, Betsy returned and managed to graduate with her class on the schedule in 2004. I spent many nights with Betsy cramming for political science exams and international studies assignments. She never complained about taking on more courses to finish on time because of her active duty. She was humble and proud to have served her country and pushed onward to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Betsy served in the Marine Corps for a total of eight years. Once she departed service, Betsy began her career as a civil servant, working in various roles with the U.S. Department of Defense, the FBI and the U.S. Department of State for nearly a decade in Washington, D.C. She furthered herself professionally, obtaining Master’s degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Forensic Psychology while working full-time. Not only did Betsy continue to serve her country in a civilian capacity she also felt called to serve as a volunteer for numerous charity organizations. Betsy acted as the event coordinator for Toys for Tots season in 2005 in Washington, D.C., where she coordinated 202 events in only six weeks. She also spent over a decade volunteering for veterans organizations, YMCA STORER Camp, the American Cancer Society and Make a Wish Foundation. Betsy spent many summers helping children find joy and normalcy during their own battles with cancer with an organization called Camp Catch A Rainbow in Michigan.

After DC she moved to Tampa, FL and took some time to find a career she could be passionate again. She eventually found herself going into the classroom as a teacher. She taught at Gaither High School and served as the senior class sponsor for the class of 2018. She moved to Houston, TX in 2018 where she taught 7th and 8th grade at Olle Middle School and now she teaches 7th grade at Alief Middle School. She has a passion for teaching history and government to the next generation. Betsy dedicates herself to the individual success of her students. She is currently working on obtaining her principal certification, where she feels that she can make a greater impact in administration. She adopts kids for Secret Santa, volunteers for school dances and is present for her students outside of the classroom. Her kids are lucky to have her as their learning facilitator!

An avid dog-lover, Betsy has rescued several canine companions throughout her lifetime. Her latest pack consists of a German Shepherd named Sadie and a mix named Thorne. Betsy loves to travel, enjoys spending time with her friends and family and has a passion for trying new things in life. We’ve explored the arctic circle together, jumped off a cliff in Mexico (there was water at the bottom) and had a thousand adventures in between. Unfortunately, her future plans are currently on hold after an alarming discovery a few months ago.

Betsy discovered a lump in her breast this past fall and immediately voiced her concern to her doctors. She had a biopsy and was diagnosed with triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma. The biopsy taken on 12/10 tested for ER, PR and HER-2 NEGATIVE. The R stands for receptors, the E is estrogen, and the P is progesterone. The test was to see what, if anything, is fueling the cancer and how it might move and grow. Triple-negative cancer is aggressive and unpredictable. Betsy had a procedure in January to surgically implant a port that gives doctors easy access to administer chemotherapy medications. She began chemotherapy a few days later and will be given a total of 12 rounds of Paclitaxel once a week for 12 weeks. This specific chemo medication attacks and kills any and all cancer cells anywhere in the body. She embraced the hair loss, organized a virtual head-shaving party and elected for a mohawk/breast cancer awareness do’ for a few weeks before her hair fell out. Betsy is rocking the bald look, the wigs, the ball caps and beanies; you name it! She will likely undergo double mastectomy surgery after chemo is finished but has already experienced a few setbacks and delays related to issues with her port and a very recent postponement of chemo treatment due to elevated liver enzymes. Once Betsy finishes the first half of her treatment plan she will start another round of chemo that is exceptionally grueling. That chemotherapy will be administered as one dose every two weeks for eight weeks with surgery for sometime this summer

She is halfway through the first part of chemotherapy and has been working through her entire chemotherapy journey thus far, taking very little time off from teaching. Betsy’s last day of work will be in April, and she will have to take FMLA leave from teaching as she has already used all of her vacation days. She will receive a reduced salary during this time! In the meantime, she is doing her best to make ends meet in a single-income household. All funds raised will go directly to paying for medical expenses related to treatment, alternative therapies for pain management, and general household expenditures.

Despite her diagnosis, Betsy continues to keep a positive outlook on her prognosis and is looking forward to life after beating cancer. She is a fighter by nature and will not let cancer stop her in any capacity… did I mention she haaaaaaates the color pink!? Alas, she has embraced the flamingo as “her” pink throughout her breast cancer journey. Betsy has made such a positive impact on the lives of so many people in this world. It’s time to return the kindness and generosity she has shown throughout her life and help her through this chapter. No donation is too small! She needs us!!! Please join this flock of flamingos as we help support Betsy through her journey. #FlockCancer!

Betsy's Motto: "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey." -Annabelle Matthews