Lauren Thomas's Chemo for Stage 2 Breast Cancer

Less than one week ago, one of my best friends, Lauren, had her world shattered. Lauren, a 28-year-old Cherokee High School Alumni, was diagnosed with stage 2 Breast Cancer. Lauren attended Coastal Carolina University as a D1 athlete, where she played Lacrosse and joined a sorority. After graduation, she spent five years with Strive Physical Therapy, where she was loved beyond measure by her patients. In the evenings, Lauren trains High School Lacrosse girls throughout South Jersey. Our girl is a worker. She does not stop. Work aside; she still finds time to go to as many Philadelphia Eagles Football Games (her family is season ticket holders) as possible, to love her life and to support her friends in all our endeavors. Aunt Lauren has shown up to watch my children’s sports games, supported me through tough times and been a rock in my life, as well as the lives of so many others. In fact, she has been dubbed in our family as Seneca Golden Eagles Varsity Football’s number one fan. All was well…until it wasn’t. About ten months ago, Lauren left her PT job at Strive and joined a non-profit organization, Bayada Home Health Care. Just weeks ago, Lauren, like millions of others, had to select her insurance plan during the open enrollment and opted for preventative care coverage. In “great health” and only 28 years old, it did not seem like the mistake that she later realized it would be. ONLY WEEKS LATER, she was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer. What does this mean? Well, though Stage 2 Breast Cancer is curable, it is only curable with treatment. She is at a standstill. Preventative Care coverage will cover annual checkups but does not and will not cover treatments, surgeries, etc. Without insurance approvals, which she is not eligible for, she cannot complete further testing to determine how much her cancer has spread, nor can she schedule chemotherapy, her mastectomy or radiation. She cannot afford the recommended egg retrieval to preserve her eggs so that she may one day have a family after chemotherapy. She does not qualify for Charity Care due to her income. Open enrollment for NJ Health Benefits would not go into effect until January 1, 2023.

Lauren is a D1 athlete; she is a coach; she is a referee; she is a daughter; she is a sister; she is a best friend; she is an aunt; she is a kick-ass employee. Lauren is there for everyone. Let’s be there for her.

I am not asking; I am begging….pleading with every fiber in my body for anyone and everyone to help save Lauren. Her sorority sisters, the families of girls that she trains Lacrosse, her coworkers, Cherokee Alumni, and anyone whose life was touched by Lauren, please take a moment to make a donation so she can move forward with treatment