Penny's Pennies

My mom has always been one of the strongest people I know.  My mom taught me everything I know.  She is the type of woman that would give you her coat in a snow storm, just to make sure that you’re warm.  She is never one to ask for help, which is why I, her daughter, am reaching out for a little help for her. 

In 2012 she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in her mouth.  She had an extensive surgery in June of 2012.  The doctors took 72 lymph nodes from the left side of her neck.  They also removed an artery from her mouth and took one from her left arm to replace it.  To replace the skin on her arm they took a skin graft from her leg.  She went through months of radiation and chemo.  She remained strong through this entire journey, and she beat it.  

Now in 2017 she is ready to begin a new fight.  The cancer is unfortunately back.  No one wants to hear the word cancer in their life, especially twice.  Currently there are 3 spots that were confirmed cancerous, and we will return to Rochester to discuss options available.  She will have a PET scan and MRI on Monday, March 13th.

In the past year she has struggled to make ends meet between doctor bills, house payments, groceries, gas, you name it.  She was told that she would lose her house last year if she couldn't make the payments so she tried to find an apartment.  She finally found one and within the next month she should be moved in and settled.  While in Rochester this week she found out that the government would take her federal taxes to put toward her loan for her house making it nearly impossible to make a down payment towards her new apartment.  She has been trying her hardest to stay above water, but some things just keep weighing her down.  I would love to be financially able to take all of the expenses away but it’s just not possible for me.  

I would love to help her get her house back so that she could sell it and make some profit.  Throughout the years she has put so much time, effort and love into her house and I would hate to see that just washed down the drain.  Anything would help during this tough time.  I am already grateful for the people who have offered meals, their time and rides to Rochester.  There is a potential that she will be taking off work for a while, not just for appointments, but together we can make this work.  She can beat it again.