Help Ember Heal Breast Cancer

Hi, I’m Ember.

I’m a 41-year-old mom to a beautiful 18-year-old daughter named Aniston. I am currently living with a recurrence of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and am reaching out to friends, family, and everyone in my community who can help support me in my healing journey toward renewed health and wellness.

I was originally diagnosed with TNBC in February of last year. Having no history of breast cancer in my family it came as a complete shock. I’d just been on a health journey and felt healthier than I ever had before. I was living my best life. I loved to challenge myself to go beyond my comfort zone and explore new things. Whether reading, watching musical theater, traveling, doing yoga, practicing jiu jitsu, swimming, or writing, I was enjoying all that life has to offer.

A major focus of my life has been helping people with their own life challenges by using healing and personal development techniques. This passion for life led me to get my master’s in professional counseling and training/certification in hypnotherapy, somatic breathwork, life coaching, and yoga among other things. I love to share this work with others and inspire them to live their best life. A life they love and one that lights their soul on fire.

My cancer diagnosis, while not the journey I would’ve asked for, changed the trajectory of my life’s work on an even deeper level. I’ve always believed cancer came as a messenger to show me what was out of alignment in my life and body and that I have the power to heal. While I still have very human moments, I also believe I will come out the other side stronger than ever. Now, I’m even more passionate about helping others heal and become their most empowered selves. I have a renewed sense of purpose and know I am here to do big things and help many people. I want to be around for a long time.

I’ve always been a helper. I’ve never been comfortable asking for help, but even though it doesn’t come easily, I need to ask for your support right now.

A cancer diagnosis is a stress no one prepares you for. After my diagnosis, I found myself spending a lot of time researching cures for cancer, finding new therapies and new ways to support my healing. I was going from one doctor to another, one treatment to another, on top of planning a trip to get my daughter a prom dress, senior pictures, graduation and sending her off to college.

To compound it all, my full-time income was reduced to half pay for about a year and then I was unexpectedly let go from my job. My income became zero. Trying to support myself during inflation and a housing boom increased the cost of everything tenfold. Adding treatment costs and medical expenses onto that created a need to file bankruptcy at the end of last year, sell almost everything I owned, and move in with my mom.

It's been a humbling experience to say the least, and not one I saw coming. I was finally on the upswing getting three new part time jobs I love, completing my yoga teacher training, and feeling like everything was finally falling into place when I received my new diagnosis.

During my first diagnosis, I was optimistic and determined to go a more natural route, feeling I could heal my cancer. I did have two surgeries to completely remove the lump but then went through all the natural healing treatments I could find that resonated with me. I followed my intuition and will never regret that. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. I need a more integrative approach with more conventional treatments in order to heal.

In December of 2023, I was diagnosed yet again with Triple

Negative Breast Cancer. Hearing the words "it's cancer again" was one of the hardest things I've had to hear. But even harder than that was having to tell my family. We were already still trying to recover from the emotional and financial toll of going through diagnosis and treatment earlier in the year. They have helped me so much and I knew this was going to add stress for everyone and I hated being the cause of that.

With a new diagnosis comes new treatments, new costs, and I am once again needing to get over my ego and ask for help.

I am fortunate to have found an amazing treatment facility, City of Hope, that offers comprehensive treatment all in one place. I can see my oncologist, radiological oncologist, surgeon, naturopath, dietician, and counselor all in one day and all under one roof. I am so grateful to have found a place that provides comprehensive care and where I feel supported and encouraged.

I am about to start a 24-week regimen of chemo and immunotherapy to be followed by surgery and possible radiation. The good news is the chemo protocol my oncologist has put me on has been shown to increase survival in TNBC by 60-80%, which if you know anything about TNBC is huge. I believe that this, along with the complementary healing treatments I’m doing, will help me heal from cancer and reduce my chances of recurrence tremendously.

While insurance covers a good portion of treatment costs, it doesn’t cover all of it and it covers none of the additional treatments my doctor recommends such as mistletoe therapy and supplements, which will offset the side effects of chemo.

Your financial support would help me cover expenses for:

- Basic living expenses such as organic food, insurance, bills, etc. ($2,500) so I can focus on healing, which is a huge job in itself, instead of stressing over money and trying to get enough hours to pay basic bills. I currently have three part time jobs but my hours currently don’t cover my expenses and that gap will be even wider once treatment starts.

- Complimentary therapies such as Mistletoe IV’s ($350 per IV), acupuncture ($95 per session), Vitamin C IV’s ($150 per IV), oxygen chamber ($50 each visit), massage ($75), yoga ($50), counseling ($450).

- Medical expenses not covered by insurance such as deductibles, co-pays, lab expenses, prescriptions, and supplements

- Items to help during chemo such as mitts and booties that help prevent neuropathy and a Dignicap to help reduce hair loss (Although I'm leaning more towards purchasing wigs for cost savings and ease instead.)

- Travel expenses to get to and from City of Hope and overnight stays at a hotel during treatment

- Mineral water delivery to reduce toxic load from filtered water ($200 per month)

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.

Other ways you can support me on this journey:

- Share this Go Fund Me Page to help me reach more people.

- Refer anyone who might be looking for emotional healing, breathwork, coaching, etc. to my website www.lifewithemberlynn.com so they can book a session. Or book one for yourself!

- Stay tuned for more fun fundraising events coming soon! If you have ideas I’m all ears. I would love to offer a breathwork or hypnosis session for a group at your event space or also offer individual sessions.

- Send prayers and encouraging words throughout this healing journey.

You can follow my journey real-time on social media @lifewithemberlynn

I am so beyond grateful for all of your love and support.

Love,

Ember