Faith, Hope & Charity: Kate's Multiple Myeloma

Hello, My name is Tyesha Barsh and I’ve created this GoFund Me in support of my mother, Willie Kate Barsh, affectionately known to many as Rickie and others as Sister Barsh.

My mother is employed full-time by a very well-known government agency which I do not wish to disclose because of repercussions that could arise. She’s also taken steps to put certain things in place with her job and benefits to prepare for any possible emergencies, as well as planning for retirement. However, this agency as well as the benefits coordinator for this agency has failed to honor and uphold the benefits rightly due to her which has caused a great hardship for her.

In mid-2019, her mother (my grandmother) began to experience a series of health issues after a fall, including hospitalizations, etc. This required my mother to subsequently miss numerous hours from work and this continued until my grandmother passed away in 2020.

The following year, my mother began experiencing a series of health crises herself, including contracting and being hospitalized for COVID in 2021. As a result, my mother accrued close to 500 hours of “Leave Without Pay” from her job but her employer made every excuse to refuse her those paid hours despite there being a plan in place that provided for 600+ hours of paid leave for employees affected by COVID.

Adding to her already difficult situation, she unfortunately suffered a back injury and various unexplained respiratory infections off and on until the end of January 2022 when she was diagnosed with the unimaginable, Stage 4 Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, anemia, kidney dysfunction, and infections can occur. After her diagnosis, multiple tumors/lesions were discovered throughout her bones. She was then hospitalized for nearly a month after receiving surgery to put rods and screws in both hips due to cancer and a misdiagnosis that landed her in the ICU.

In April 2023, she was hospitalized again due to pneumonia and sepsis. Three days after being discharged from the hospital, she broke her right arm and had what is believed to be a tumor in her left arm due to the Multiple Myeloma, leaving her with very little use of both her arms. All of these events, combined with her already using an electrical wheelchair, have now left her unable to transfer to and from her wheelchair, groom and toilet herself, etc without 100% assistance around the clock.

These latest hospitalizations, myriads of doctor appointments/treatments, and physical therapies have resulted in her not receiving a paycheck in nearly 3 months. Despite her pre-planning and enrolling in certain benefits with her job, the benefits to which she thought she was entitled have been denied and/or have not been honored. This lack of income has created extreme hardships for her.

Due to my health issues, I am on a fixed income and therefore am very limited in being able to provide financial support to her. I am hoping to raise funds to assist her with hospital/medical bills, supplies, alternative treatments at home and eventually at a lifestyle center, transportation to and from chemo and other appointments, living expenses, etc. I would also like her to be able to have some supportive/respite staff occasionally as I am her sole caregiver with limited support from my brother and teenage son though they have been a blessing. I am starting to experience caregiver burnout and these services would allow me to recharge so that I can provide the best care possible for her.

Throughout my life, I’ve witnessed my mother often support others, even if it was with her last. She has always been very determined and tries to always make a way out of no way. She is independent and very faithful. I would really like to rally some support for her to assist her on her road to recovery, wellness and pursuit of her aspirations. I want her to be able to focus more on her health than the financial aspect of this situation. I know that this is just a fiery trial that is refining her and I am very hopeful and faithful that God is in this with her and will deliver her from this.

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

I greatly appreciate any contribution. No amount is too small. I also ask that you all please keep her lifted in prayer.