Support Amy through her cancer journey

Hi, my name is Scott, and I hope to help my little sister Amy through her cancer journey.

I write this with a heavy yet hopeful heart as my sweet little sister continues in her battle against a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. Amy was diagnosed in November 2021, just as she and her husband Brian worked to find a place to live after pulling their camper around the west for a couple of months. At the time of diagnosis, they were living in their camper to save some money so they might find a house close to their grandchildren in Marthasville, Missouri.

As some might know, Amy became a treasured fixture in their hometown of Vandalia, Illinois, where she provided loving home daycare services to generations of the community's children. Amy cared for dozens of infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged kids over multiple decades while Brian served his community by providing security at the local state prison. Brian and Amy had dreams for retirement that included camping, spending time with their three grown children and extended family, and watching their grandchildren grow. Amy finally called it a career in the spring of 2021 and joined Brian among the ranks of the retired. Their retirement plans also included, and necessarily so, part-time work to make ends meet while they enjoyed being retired together.

Along with many others facing even more difficult circumstances, life has thrown Amy and Brian a cancer curveball. At the beginning of February '22, Amy underwent a double mastectomy and the beginning of surgical reconstruction. It was believed that the surgery went well. Amy was geared up to begin a long course of challenging and complicated chemotherapy followed by radiation, hoping that cancer hadn't spread to other parts of her body. After enduring multiple rounds of chemo and the planned change to the second set of chemo drugs, it all ultimately proved too much. Amy's reaction to the second set of chemo drugs landed her in the intensive care unit at the Siteman Cancer Care Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where the very drugs meant to save her life nearly ended her life. After she made the difficult recovery, it happened again...another hospitalization that caused her to fight for her life against the drugs meant to save her.

While her care team was trying to figure out the next steps, Amy discovered a concerning sore on her side, and a biopsy confirmed the worst...she'd had cancer reoccurrence. This cancer also requires surgery that is scheduled for early September, and her care team is busy trying to calculate where to go from there.

As you might guess, the past months have been very trying for Amy and Brian. Amy and her daughter Mackenzie began a Facebook page called Amy's Cancer Journey, where they chronicle Amy's journey for those concerned about Amy and her well-being. Amy has projected a very positive attitude and demeanor on this site, and many have commented on what an inspiration she is. However, and this is likely not a surprise, behind the scenes, Amy has struggled at times, both physically and emotionally. I hesitate to write this because Amy is a quiet, reserved and private person, but this struggle has been difficult, and a number of folks are working to provide the support Amy and Brian need during this time.

Having said that, I'm betting there are plenty of concerned people who have been looking for an opportunity to help. Here is one way you can help, should you be so moved and able to provide some assistance. Amy and Brian are struggling a bit with monthly expenses and expenses, directly and indirectly, related to her medical care. Yes, they have health insurance, and for that, they consider themselves to be very fortunate. But, the added costs associated with Amy's diagnosis and treatment, along with Brian's limited ability to work due to his need to provide support for Amy, and Amy's inability to work at all (though she did have a job all lined up at the local grocery store just before her hospitalizations), has caused some financial hardship. Please consider donating to Amy and Brian to help offset some of the financial difficulty they're dealing with. Any amount will prove helpful, and you can't know just how much your generosity would mean to Amy and Brian as they continue to work together to fight this cancer.

If you cannot help financially, please consider keeping Amy and Brian in your hearts and prayers. This support has already been valuable to them.

THANK YOU so much!!