Marissa's Medical Expenses for Breast Cancer

Hello there! I'm Marissa. I'm 32 years old and I'm a coach, writer, and creative and passionate human. As of August 2022, I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a noninvasive form of breast cancer. Coming from a family history of cancer, this was always one of my biggest fears. As you might imagine, it has been a deeply traumatizing, scary, humbling, “brutiful,” anxious, heartbreaking, and frustrating experience so far.

After a few long months of appointments, tests, biopsies, MRIs, and lots of anxious waiting, I finally have a surgery date for a lumpectomy on the calendar–November 22nd–and a treatment plan after I heal (mandatory radiation five days a week for a month). This means I'll be completing my radiation in January 2023.

I'm blessed to live in Pittsburgh with access to such incredible health care, and I am in excellent hands with my surgical team. I am also so grateful to be surrounded by loving family, supportive friends, and mental health services during this time to help me work through the immense emotional and mental challenges this season brings.

Beyond your prayers, well wishes, and healing energy, an area where I could use your tangible help is through financial support. This isn't the easiest thing to ask for, but this experience is really stretching me to ask for what I need and learn how to receive with open arms. I believe in community care, and this is one of the ways to receive that care.

Any donations will help me cover the cost of:

Medical Expenses: While I am lucky to have a great insurance plan, there are still quite a few costs associated with a cancer diagnosis. In addition to reaching my deductible for both 2022 and 2023, there are also other out-of-pocket expenses to budget for (much of which I cannot yet predict!).

Wellness Care: The "Care and Keeping of You" throughout a season like this means an uptick in things like therapy, healthy food and supplements, gentle movement classes, and other ways of keeping me mentally, physically, and emotionally well.

Transportation, Gas, Parking: Between the various appointments I already have had across all of Pittsburgh and the daily radiation I'll be starting after surgery, I will be driving a lot.

Other Miscellaneous Supportive Costs: It would feel so supportive to be able to potentially hire a house cleaner or a meal service during recovery to focus on healing and still keep up with the day-to-day tasks of life.

I hope that, with your help, I'll be able to better focus my energy on taking really good care of myself without the stress of paying my bills or rent.

Thank you so much for your time and for any support you're willing and able to provide!