1 Month Cancer Recovery Living Expenses

1 Month Cancer Recovery Living Expenses

Synopsis: I am still trying to raise the remaining $4,445 (1 month) of the $16,000 (3-month) goal as I continue to recover and secure a job.

Update: Thank you to everyone who helped fundraise $11,555 of the $16,000 goal to cover our living expenses while I completed my cancer treatment (see details below)!! I was able to continue and complete treatment, which included major surgery.

The $11,555 covered 2 out of 3 months of cancer treatment living expenses. I was able to make the funds last longer by using it for Jay's expenses only when he took time off of work to care for me after surgery (he was only able to take 1 week off), with grants I was finally approved for (I had applied to them prior to the creation of this GoFundMe), and with help from 1ofUs, Healing Pines Respite, & close family. Also, I recently stopped paying some bills like utilities and my school loan. Those I can get away with not paying for a little while before being shut off or my credit score being affected.

Thus, most of my living expenses were covered for the initial and main 8 weeks of recovery time after surgery. It has been almost 12 weeks since my surgery. Although I can drive and I'm not in pain at the slightest movements, I am still recovering (I'm not suppose to lift more than 5-10 pounds for another 2 months, etc.).

My recovery from cancer treatment in general has made my job search more difficult. I continue to suffer from fatigue, slight insomnia, and “chemo brain”. (Even my nails are still coming off and my range of motion is limited, so I'm doing physical therapy again.) It still takes me longer to do things than before treatment. After what seems to be too long, I am getting close to securing a job, but have yet to do so.

Therefore, I am still trying to raise the remaining $4,445 of the $16,000 goal as I continue to recover and secure a job. Please consider donating so I can reach my goal and cover living expenses until I start a job and get my first paycheck.

Last 3 Months Cancer Treatment Living Expenses

Hi, my name is Faith (Rachel Faith Brown is my full name). I’m a betrothed mother of 2 who has been undergoing stage III aggressive HER2+ breast cancer treatment for over a year. After exhausting all other resources, we are hoping to fundraise $16,000 to cover 3 months of living expenses while I complete my cancer treatment, which includes at least 1 more surgery with a 4–6-week recovery time. If I’m unable to cover these expenses, I will have to stop treatment and possibly not finish.

 

About Us

 

I was 36 years old when I was diagnosed with stage III aggressive HER2+ breast cancer, so I am considered a young cancer patient. The cancer isn’t hereditary, so the diagnosis came as a complete surprise. I’ve tried my best to stay positive while allowing room to process everything without judgment. I never asked God why me. Instead I’ve asked, “What is the purpose?”

 

So far, I’ve felt like the purpose of my cancer journey is to love myself, life, and God more. It’s a challenge for me to focus on just my journey because my heart has always bled to serve and love others. I’ve volunteered in my community since I was 12 years old, been a social worker for 15 years, and a mother for nearly 13 years. For several years before my diagnosis, I had struggled with “burnout” and frequent anxiety in my day-to-day life. Through my cancer journey I am learning to better care for and love myself, and have found new ways to manage stress and anxiety. Perhaps most important, I have reconnected with a sense of purpose in my life, which I believe is to grow closer to God.

 

My family and I have experienced a lot of love from others since my diagnosis, which has really helped to fill my cup and even heal me. My family is very important to me and has been a great source of strength and love throughout this journey. My fiancé’s name is Jeremiah, but he goes by Jay. He is my caregiver and lives with me. He has been supportive of my medical decisions, held me as I’ve suffered, been by my side during many hospital visits, and cared for the children when I could not.

 

 

My oldest child is 12 years old and his name is Isaiah. He has been helpful and given me the best medicine there is: laughter. It hasn’t been completely easy for him to understand our financial limitations during this time, but he has tried. My youngest child is 3 years old and her name is Leah, which is pronounced the Hebrew way from the Bible (like Princess Leia). Although she can take a lot of energy and attention to care for (as any toddler can), she will always remain the light of my heart and fill me with joy. We have a 12-year-old wiener dog named Oscar who is my shadow and snuggle bug, and we have a 5-year-old goldfish that Isaiah won from the fair named Hala.

 

 

 

Past Treatment

 

Over the past year and more, my stage III aggressive HER2+ breast cancer treatment has included:

 

 

Needed Treatment

 

Over the next few months, to complete my stage III aggressive HER2+ breast cancer treatment I will need:

During surgery recovery, I will mainly be bedridden with limited mobility and unable to work or drive. I will depend on Jay as my caregiver and others to care for me and my children. So, Jay will need to take time off work to do so and will thus lose income.

 

Financial Struggles

 

I have had a difficult time finding a job with my limitations and needs during this time, and my fiancé is a low-income earner with no paid time off, so we have depleted our savings, applied to all the cancer-related grants that could be found, maxed out credit cards, or taken loans to help us survive. Although Jay works 2 jobs, 6 days a week he doesn’t earn enough to cover all our expenses and loses income when he has to take time off as my caregiver.

 

I have been trying to find a part-time, work-from-home job. I have needed a work-from-home job because my immune system has been compromised and my body continues to heal from treatments and surgery. In fact, I recently contracted COVID and I’m still experiencing symptoms after almost 4 weeks, even though I received an antibody infusion the 4th day and tested negative the next day. It takes my body a long time to heal and any ailment I experience takes an extra toll on my body.

 

I have needed a part-time job because of my physical and cognitive limitations, as well as to keep my health insurance. I suffer from fatigue and occasional insomnia, so I can’t exert myself for long periods of time and need to nap daily. Because I have Medicaid for health insurance, I cannot earn more than the eligible income limit or I will lose my health insurance, which is obviously very important right now- getting medical expenses covered is much more difficult and expensive than living expenses.

 

I’ve had some success in my job search, but my limitations and needs during this time have kept me from getting far. I interviewed for a job that included mock calls on a system I wasn’t familiar with and required a high level of multitasking, but my “chemo brain” wasn’t able to keep up and I didn’t get the job. I was selected to interview with a well-known company, but it was withdrawn because I couldn’t have any absences during the 4-6 weeks of training and I have medical appointments very often.

 

Financial Needs

 

After exhausting all other resources, we are hoping to fundraise $16,000 to cover 3 months of living expenses while I complete my cancer treatment, which includes at least 1 more surgery with a 4–6-week recovery time. It will allow me to recover while I’m unable to work or drive and am mainly bedridden with limited mobility. It would allow Jay to take time off work to care for me and the children.

 

It would also allow me to be less anxious as I go through the turmoil of treatment and focus more easily on healing. It will help in so many ways, but most important, this short-term financial support will allow me to complete the final medical treatments I still require.

 

Monthly Living Expenses

 

Below is a breakdown of our monthly living expenses, so you can see what the funds will be used for exactly:

 

$1,473 Rental Expenses (rent, rental insurance)

$453 Utilities (including necessary cell phone and internet connection)

$620 Daycare

$679 Transportation (car insurance, gas)

$200 Household items

$258 Student Loans

$1,424 Past loans and indebtedness

$200 Miscellaneous (medicine, supplements, celebrations, etc.)

$5,307 Total Monthly Expenses

 

THANK YOU!

 

Thank you for reading this and for considering donating to my fundraiser. Every donation, no matter the amount, is helpful! Please feel free to share with friends and family. God bless you and may you also feel loved in this life!

Some people have asked if I have payment apps. I do! If you’d prefer to send donations that way, my username for each app are listed below:

Zelle: my email address: mybcjourney2freedom (please add @gmail.com at the end)

Cash App: $RFaithBrown 

PayPal: @RFaithBrown

Venmo: @RFaithBrown