A Father's Plea

"Dad, I have cancer."  No parent wants to hear that from their first born child.  What started out as a routine exam, turned into a nightmare.  At first my daughter Robyn was told she had a cyst in her breast and not to worry.  But as the pain continued, she decided to get an ultra sound.  The results of that test indicated the possibility of early stage one cancer.  Still not the news you wanted to hear, but treatable.  Further tests would discover that what was first thought to be a cyst, and then early cancer, was in fact stage four metastatic breast cancer which was already present in her liver and bones.  How does this happen to a healthy 46 year old?  How do you make sense out of this?  The simple answer is - you don't.  Once the reality sets in, and the chemo starts with all of its side effects, it hits you.  This is going to be a battle.  And it has for over a year now.  But along with the reality of cancer, comes other realities.  So far insurance pays the bulk of the medical expense, praise God for that.  However, Robyn, who only a few years ago, was selected as the North Carolina Early Learning Center Director of the year, has just recently left her position because of the effects of her treatments.  Car payments, mortgage, utility bills, food, clothing, expenses caring for her children, etc. are still ever present.

I can't do anything about the cancer - wish I could.  But as a dad, I want to see that she can continue to live her life without worrying about all these bills.  There is a saying that goes "Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass . . . It's about learning how to dance in the rain."  I need your help to let Robyn continue her dance.  

A dad says thank you . . .  Frank DeLuise