Women We Have Helped – Maria

Grant Recipient: Maria

Up to this point…I always supported myself and never asked for help.

Diagnosis: Stage I breast cancer (diagnosed 06/14), lymphedema

Treatment: Lumpectomy, radiation, hormone therapy

Grant used for: Transportation assistance, basic living assistance, pain management

Maria’s story: Before Maria was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer in June of 2014, she and her husband worked hard to get by. His paycheck covered the rent and the car payments. Maria was self-employed as a hair dresser. Most of her profits went to covering her business expenses, but whatever was left over helped pay the rest of the couples’ bills.

As a result of her cancer, Maria had to undergo a lumpectomy, which caused lymphedema, or painful swelling in her left arm. This pain, along with the exhaustion and other side effects of her radiation therapy made it impossible for Maria to continue to work. Additionally, she and her husband only have a single car and are extremely conscious of wasting gasoline, so he drops her off at the hospital at 3 AM in the morning on his way to work so that she can attend her appointments. Radiation therapy often requires continuous treatments, which means Maria must make the exhausting 160-mile round trip every single day during the course of her treatment.

Maria and her husband counted on Maria’s income to pay for important things like auto insurance, gas, and utility bills. Now with the loss of her income on top of her growing medical bills, they are struggling to get by. Maria has attempted to qualify for disability and unemployment payments but has been denied. The pain from her lymphedema and the constant money worries that Maria faces has spun her into what she describes as “an enormous amount of depression.”

With the help of our considerate donors, SOPFCA was able to give Maria at least a little financial relief. Our grant went toward paying Maria’s auto insurance, her utility bills, and buying special prosthesis to help Maria manage the pain from her lymphedema. This grant will help make the long, daily car trips to the hospital easier for Maria, help ease her pain, and give her a little less to worry about so she can focus on getting better. We continue to keep Maria in our thoughts and hope that she will be able to work again soon.