“I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008 at which point I was only given 6 months to live. I was in the last stage of my cancer and it had caused tumors all over my body and eaten my bones to a point of looking like Swiss cheese. My life was a whirlwind at this time, I could no longer take care of myself let alone my kids.
I remember as I started to get healthier my self serving survival instinct settled down some. I made a decision then that I needed to find some support for my children. Izzy was 6 and Maxine was 4 years old at that time. I found a few books that were always checked out at the library and Facing Cancer Together.
Wow!!! FACT filled such a huge void that was in my children's lives. A place where they did not feel alone, where cancer was a common word and not followed by a sympathetic gesture by well meaning people. A place where the focus was on them and boy did that make me feel good!
The first year the girls went to the camp, my oldest was going through major separation anxiety. She did not want to leave me because she was afraid I was going to die. I told Janice what was going on and she assured me she was in good and capable hands. Izzy would fight me every morning about going but by the time I picked them up in the afternoon it was all smiles and pride she was filled with. She now talks about being a camp counselor when she gets older.
Since my diagnosis I have battled many things and fought very hard for my life. Facing Cancer Together gave me pride when I was going to a food shelf to feed my family. I had a way to bring my children to a summer camp that I would have never dreamed of due to extra cost. Thank you for helping me take care of my girls. Like the saying goes it takes a village to raise a child, thank you from the bottom of my heart!”