Hi,

My life has changed so much in the last 3 months or so. I’ve never been a person who gets sick really, the typical cold here and there but nothing really serious. I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia back in November 2021 and it’s been one of the most difficult times of my life. 

I worked in a restaurant for almost 8 years. A very successful restaurant, it had his challenges but I loved my job. 

Since the pandemic started, we faced a shortage of staff, as many businesses in town. The restaurant never closed during the pandemic and as we got busier, the staff shortage only got worse so me as other employees we were doing the job of 2-3 people at the same time. Regardless, we had a nice team and we all supported each other but the work was too much and it was very tiring. 

After a very long consideration I decided to give my notice so I can start fresh some place else, maybe take some cooking classes or culinary school if I had the opportunity later on. The company I worked for offered me to pay for the classes as long as as I stayed with the company to  which I agreed to.  I decided to take the last six weeks of the year off to get some rest, start fresh with work and school at the beginning of the year. I was planning to use my vacation time to cover it. 

I’ve had some health issues for the last few weeks before my diagnosis but after almost two years of being overworked, I just assumed it was exhaustion and some rest would be enough to get back fresh and new. 

The night sweats started about a month before diagnosis, I was so tired every day, I lost weight very quickly, I had bruises in my legs and the week before diagnosis, I had sores in my mouth. 

I had a general check up was told I would get results within 2-3 business days. I received a call the next day and I was told I was showing a leukemic profile and needed to go to a hospital immediately. I went to the Emergency Room and was transferred to the only hospital in the state that treats leukemia, which is two hours away from home. 

Immediately I had a bone marrow biopsy started chemotherapy two days later. I spent a month in the induction part of the treatment. Everything was a shock and to this day, it’s hard to believe I have this disease.

I am currently in the consolidation part of the treatment. The plan is to have 4 induction cycles, which is a week in the hospital receiving chemo and two more weeks at home taking a chemotherapy pill. In the meantime doctor’s appointments, biopsies, labs, procedures, etc. have taken a physical and a financial toll on me. 

After the diagnosis, I had to stop working and haven’t been able to go back due to weakness and the treatment itself. 

My mom and I had to move in with my sister since I couldn’t afford us to live on our own. I have two older sisters and we all help taking care of my mom. She had two strokes a few years ago and she doesn’t move around much. I do all the heavy stuff, like help her taking baths, carrying her around, keeping her peg tube in good condition, overlook her health overall including all doctor’s appointments. 

Like I said, it’s been very hard to adjust to this life and even harder to ask for help, for financial help. I’ve always taken care of my family and now my family is taking care of me which feels like a huge burden. My older sister Alfa, stopped working so she can take me to all the appointments I have and spend the time with me while I’m at the hospital since I get very weak to move around. She’s doing everything she can but I know it’s very hard on her.

My sister Nancy is taking care of some of the bills and the food for all of us. I never imagined I would be in this situation specially because I was the one my sister’s relied on. Both of them had breast cancer at different times in my life and I was the one who was taking them to doctor’s appointments and doctor’s stays. The same thing they’re doing for me now, it’s funny how life comes around. 

Nancy went through it first, with a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction and chemotherapy after that. Alfa had it and went through surgery and radiation but the cancer came back a year later. The doctor then recommended a double mastectomy and reconstruction after that. It was very hard for me to see them going through that and I did everything in my power to make it better for them, to help them. Thank God, today both of my sister are cancer survivors. 

So this is a little bit of my story and struggles. I have faith that I’m going to get through this and be there for my family for many years to come but I may need some help to get there and any financial help or donation will be greatly appreciated.

My oncologist recommended a bone marrow transplant to make sure the leukemia doesn’t come back. It needs to be done as soon as possible. My insurance only covers 70% of the cost of the surgery and I’m responsible for the rest. We’re not sure on how much it will be exactly but it is around $80,000.00 which is an amount of money I can not even imagine to get together but I am willing to try. 

Every donation is tax deductible or a tax right off so by helping me, you’ll also help yourself a bit. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.