Help Amber Wilson Fight Cancer

Hi, my name is Chris Williams. Last September I was blessed to meet Amber Wilson and add her to our team as our groomer for our dog boarding business. She brought a huge smile, lots of positivity and love with her to work every morning. Her gentle ways were a breath of fresh air for the staff, clients and every dog that she met. She is a hard working, passionate and proud woman.

Her health began to decline in December. She felt tired a lot and started having shoulder pain. She started losing a lot of weight quickly and was frequently nauseous. She still pushed on, showing up daily with a smile on her face but we could see she wasn't well. The first part of April, I checked the camera and watched her work. She was hurting and pushing through, completely exhausted. I went into the groom shop and she put that instant smile on. I stepped in and decided for her that she had to stop working until she got some answers to her medical troubles.

Shortly after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had been fighting with insurance trying to get tests done for three months prior to the diagnosis. After jumping through hoops for the next three months, she was able to finally get her lumpectomy. Her copays through her insurance are obscene, and she has been out of work, but hope was in sight and she remained positive.

They have found that she is hormone receptive positive so the lumpectomy didn't work. The cancer has continued and grow. They have decided that a double masectomy is the solution. Unfortunately, insurance won't pay for another breast MRI until 6 months from her last one. The MRI is necessary to schedule the surgery.

Amber and her family need help. She has been too proud to ask or accept help. There is no one more deserving. She is a giver and someone you would always want to have in your corner. That is why I am reaching out.

Her family consists of her disabled husband. He lost his Mom to ovarian cancer when he was six years old. He fought in Afghanistan as a Marine and was injured by a bomb 9 years ago. He is permanently disabled and legally blind. The VA said there was a 9 month wait for her to be covered by VA insurance, so she is forced to use state paid insurance. Amber was the breadwinner for their family, working long hours 7 days a week, two different jobs.

They have two children living with them. Ryker, who is 9; and Bradley, who is 6. They don't know their Mom has cancer, they call it the Icky bug.

At this point, their funds are depleted. The boys got two sets of new clothes to start school with. Prior to this tragedy, Amber always worked very hard to make sure they never went without anything.

Their family needs help with medical expenses (the MRI is $1600 cash price and will get her to surgery, bypassing the insurance). Who knows the red tape she will have to cut through to get the mastectomy. A double mastectomy runs $80 to 150 thousand without insurance. She is not certain yet what will be covered. Their savings is depleted and they are living month to month on just her husband's monthly check. Help with food, living expenses, travel expenses for all the doctor appointments, and help with what isn't covered by insurance is needed.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I am doing this because my help would not be enough and I feel that there are people out there that will pitch in. I have been asking her for two months for permission to do this and she finally said yes.