ShaSha's Cancer Recovery

**UPDATE: May 1st  '22**

Our Cancer Journey Continues
Hello again, dear ones;
ShaSha here!

Let me start out by saying: Thank you, ever so much!!! You've all been just the most supportive, encouraging, kind, thoughtful, amazing people that we could ever hope to have in our lives, especially when going through something as impactful & uncertain as cancer! When I first published this fundraiser for us--my heart in my throat with worry that I was asking too much of you--I quickly found myself speechless at the outpouring of positivity & support we received! Not only have ya'll been there for us with love & empathy, but you truly went above and beyond to donate funds during a time when our lives were drastically changing and we needed to adapt as quickly as possible in order to prepare for what was to come. The money that you gave went toward help so many areas of our daily lives that we now cannot go a day or even a waking hour without being reminded of all that you've done for us.

Because of you, we were able to pay down debt, lowering our monthly payments and freeing up space in our finances for emergencies (of which there were several). Because of you, we were able to get our tinyhome ready to receive it's exhausted family every day of cancer treatment for 8 straight weeks and beyond. Because of you, I was able to have the easy-to-wear, comfortable (and yet still stylish) clothing that I needed to be able streamline my mornings and still feel presentable every day of treatment. We were even able to get set up with more PJs, bedding & linens allowing us to focus on rest more and laundry less, which let me tell you is invaluable when all you want to do is crawl into bed & sleep till you have to do it all over again the next day.

While the income from Cheyney's wonderful full-time job at First-Alt Natural Foods Co-op paid our rent & bills, your donations bought us take-home dinners for exhausted evenings, the gas & vehicle maintenance we needed in order to get me to my many treatments in Corvallis & Eugene, nutrient-rich groceries so I could properly follow my cancer nutritionists guidelines, just SO many medications & supplements, cat litter that doesn't need constant scooping, soft sooooft toilet paper, Gatorade mix to help with the constant struggle to hold on to those electrolytes through chemotherapy, work clothes for Cheyney (once again helping us do laundry less often), and so much more! And that doesn't even scratch the surface of all the cards, letters, care packages, texts & private messages you've sent--full of stories, thoughts, love, and strength!

So I thank ya'll, once again, for being the cogs in this machine that kept us going, through all of this! 

Just as I couldn't have asked for a better support group in all of you, I couldn't have hoped for a better cancer care team throughout my treatment process and beyond! They have been outstanding, competent & encouraging, and have helped me to tackle the many unexpected bumps along the way. 

One month ago, I completed chemo & radiation, and rang the bell that signifies the beginning of recovery!
In about 3 more months, we'll be able to check the results of my treatment and my doctors have been nothing but optimistic that all of our hard work will have made a cancer survivor out of me! 

However, recovery from treatment is proving more difficult than expected, as my immune system comes back online there are rashes, infections, fevers, fainting, digestive issues, nutrient deficiencies, racing heartbeats, tremors, buckets of sweat, exhaustion, pain, and even loss of muscle control & muscle failure, and ER visits. But, my care team and I are taking each as they come and finding ways to help ease their effects on my system. We're running tests, and keeping me on my weekly IV drips until we can figure out more long-term solutions.

Until we can get this body of mine stabilized & healthy, it would not be responsible for me to try to go back to work. I need all the rest and recovery I can get, as well as a schedule that allows for me to see my doctors whenever needed. Cheyney's job can thankfully pay the rent & bills, but without a 2nd income we're stretched pretty thin. On our last trip to Eugene for my final treatment our faithful little Scion XA overheated and had to be taken in for repairs. Long story short, a new radiator & cooling system later and our emergency reserves are also quite depleted. 

And so, all of that being said, Cheyney and I have agreed that it's time to ask for your help again. I didn't want to erase the history of all your previous amazingness by starting a new fund with a new goal, so we're keeping this one and simply updating the goal amount as needs must.

If you are able to, please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser with others!
Our original cancer story can still be found below if you have yet to read it, or if you would just like a refresher.

Thank you for all that you are and all that you have already done in our lives!


Sending so much love your way,
- ShaSha & Cheyney Willems
**UPDATE COMPLETE**
If you are not familiar with our story or would just like a refresher, please continue reading below.





Our Cancer Journey Begins 
Hello there, dear family & friends,

 

ShaSha here! You've all been so wonderful about asking what you can do to help Cheyney and I during this cancer journey we've found ourselves on, and I've admittedly not been great at knowing what help we actually need. But after talking with my loved ones, we decided that this might be the best route for now.

As most of ya'll know, my health hasn't exactly been awesome for quite some time--we've been through a lot of ups & downs & surgeries already throughout the decades--but about 2 years ago it became drastically worse. We've been navigating the medical system ever since, fighting for diagnosis and treatment. While there are also some substantial secondary medical issues, thanks to a small but incredible women's health team we've finally discovered the underlying long-growth cancer which has been the catalyst for so much of my daily struggle to just even get out of bed. With this diagnosis, comes a whole world of new & unknown, and also a revival of hope and a renewed sense of purpose as I begin the process of transitioning my care over to a reproductive cancer center in the big city.

During the 2 years leading up to this diagnosis, I didn't really feel able to ask for financial help when I didn't even know what was causing my illness, or how long it might last. My Cheyney husband and I live the sweetest most simplified life together with our kitties in a cozy tinyhome RV. He has a wonderful job at the local food co-op where he spends every day working just so hard throughout this pandemic alongside some of his very favourite people.
But, it's been 2 full years of my having to stay home, be safe, get rest--my only occupation has been to fight for the medical care I so dearly need--which means our finances are stretched almost to their limits. This is not only the end of one phase of our lives, it's also a whole big new beginning of another phase. I know there's gonna be some hefty medical expenses in our not-too-distant future (and I'll set up a fund for them when the time comes) but in the interim we could really use some more immediate relief, so that we can at least catch our breaths before the next wave hits.

Outside of nearly maxed credit, bills, everyday expenses, kitties, supplements, food, etc, here are some things we need that have been on my mind:

Ya'll, it feels so strange just asking for money, but because we have very specific needs (especially when it comes to clothing & bedding, and living in a tinyhome) it is easier for us to specifically pick out what will work best, rather than being given items that have been chosen by others.

 

If you are able to, please consider donating and/or sharing this fundraiser. It would mean the world to us both!

 

Thank you ever so much!

Sending you just the warmest of well-wishes and love,

 

-ShaSha & Cheyne Willems