Women We Have Helped – Jessica

Grant Recipient: Jessica

Our bills are piling up since my diagnosis of breast cancer

Diagnosis: Stage II breast cancer (diagnosed 10/14)

Treatment: Surgery, reconstruction, lymphedema

Grant used for: Wireless bill, travel expenses, food assistance

Jessica’s story: Jessica is a 43-year-old mother of two autistic children. Before her cancer diagnosis, she was the primary caregiver for her children while her husband worked to support the family. Both of Jessica’s children have food allergies and require a very specialized and expensive diet. In October of 2014, Jessica was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. As a part of her treatment, she underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction. She now suffers from lymphedema, (painful swelling of her lymph nodes), and wears a compression sleeve to help manage the pain.

Due to the difficulties of her cancer treatment, Jessica has been unable to take care of her children on her own. Her husband has stepped up to the plate and taken time off work to care for his children and wife, but without his salary, the family is facing considerable financial stress. Currently, they are relying on credit cards to pay their bills.

Jessica is experiencing a lot of pain and anxiety related to her illness and the added financial stress is triggering bad asthma attacks. In the recent past, Jessica has visited the E.R. three times for asthma attacks. Each visit requires another high co-pay, which only increases Jessica’s anxiety. In her grant application, Jessica tells us that she must now buy more medicine to help manage her increasing pain, anxiety, and stress. Jessica says, “I would greatly appreciate anything you may donate to our family.”

SOPFCA was glad to provide Jessica and her family a grant to help ease their financial stress. Our grant was used to cover the family’s wireless bill, provide funds for the specialized food Jessica’s children need, and transportation costs so Jessica can continue to make it to treatment. Thank you to all of our gracious donors who allow us to assist women in need like Jessica and so many others.