Thalia's Breast Cancer Fund

* Join us for a fundraising party on January 30th in Milton, Mass. (If you can't access the FB invite, send Thalia or I (Caryn Anderson) a message on FB and we'll invite you!)

Thalia Genes (age 51) is a behavioral health clinician who grew up in the metro Boston area.  For the past ten years Thalia has worked for United Health Group developing behavioral health programs in the Northeast region.  Thalia enjoys her work, is well respected by her colleagues and has received ongoing accolades for her performance. She has developed many strong friendships over the years in Providence and Boston. Thalia’s many friends care deeply for her and especially love her sense of adventure and wonderful sense of humor; as we say in Boston “she is wicked funny”.

Thalia’s pride and joy are her two nephews Truman (age 11) and Oliver (age 5). They have spent countless hours over the years enjoying each other’s company and continue to spend quality time together having sleepovers, completing homework assignments, making waffles, watching musicals, and playing musical instruments.  Thalia has a keen sense of adventure and has traveled to several countries in Africa, India, Norway, the Czech Republic, and Caribbean Islands.  She even survived a white water rafting trip in Maine".  Thalia also loves African hand drumming and participates in classes whenever she is able.

Sadly, Thalia was diagnosed with breast cancer in the spring of 2011 while living in Providence.  She decided to seek a second opinion at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and opted to receive her treatment there.  Thalia relocated to the metro Boston area to begin her cancer treatment and to be closer to her family. Her initial treatments included a right breast mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and breast reconstruction.  Remarkably Thalia endured these very difficult procedures and treatments with a courageous spirit, a positive attitude and an unrelenting sense of humor. 

Thalia has always been a very active person and used physical exercise to maximize her post cancer recovery.  She purchased a high quality bicycle, joined the YMCA and alternated her daily routine between 15 mile bike rides along the Charles River and 45 minute swims in the YMCA pool.  Amazingly Thalia completed an arduous 30 mile bike ride in September 2013 sponsored by United Health Group to support wounded veterans!  She also enjoyed skating and skiing in the winter, hikes in the Blue Hills in the spring and fall and kayaking with friends and family on the Charles River in the summer.

In the spring of 2014, on one of her first bike rides of the season Thalia began to experience shortness of breath and thought to herself  “Wow I’m really out of shape; how did I get this out of shape”? Approximately four weeks later Thalia received devastating news from her oncologist that her cancer had returned. Thalia now endures living with Stage 4 Breast Cancer that has metastasized to her right lung.  Her current palliative care treatments include medications, physical therapy, and trigger point injections. She also goes for massage therapy, acupuncture and sound healing to help with pain management and stress reduction.

Unfortunately Thalia is not able to participate in many of the physical activities she so once enjoyed. The complications to her lung leaves her breathless at the slightest bit of exertion. The cancer also created severe problems related to Scoliosis that limit her movement and cause excruciating pain. But, in spite of Thalia’s ongoing medical challenges her positive spirit and wonderful sense of humor remain intact.  She is truly an inspiration to her colleagues, friends and family!!!

Thalia’s friends are hosting a fundraiser at the Milton Hoosic Club on Saturday, January 30, 2016 to celebrate the gift of her friendship.   We have also set up a GoFundMe campaign for those unable to attend the party but would like to support our fabulous friend Thalia!!!

All donations will go towards Thalia’s medical expenses, especially therapies not covered by insurance like massage and acupuncture, which have been increasingly more successful in relieving her symptoms than traditional medicine. When the time comes, it will also help with hospice care.

Thalia lives with stress and worry every day.  In the short term she faces uncertainty about how much pain and fatigue and nausea she will have that day and whether she will be able to do anything about it.  In the longer term, she faces uncertainty about how her cancer will progress and how long she will live and how long she will be able to do the things she enjoys or even basic things like dressing or cooking.  We know we cannot take this stress away, but we would love it if we could at least reduce some of the financial stress and worry.

Help us spread the word and support our fabulous friend Thalia!

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We Thank You!
Thalia Thanks You!