Women We Have Helped – Lou

Grant Recipient: Lou

Throughout my life, I have faced many challenges that tested my will power and strength

Diagnosis: Stage III breast cancer (diagnosed 12/14)

Treatment: Chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal treatment, possibly radiation

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

Lou’s story: Lou has experienced her share of challenges throughout her life. As the wife of a Navy veteran, she was forced to quit her job as a nurse when her husband was deployed to Bosnia so that she could care for their two young children. Later, her husband’s career took them to Rota, Spain, where she had trouble finding nursing work and instead cobbled together entry level positions to make ends meet.

Recently, her husband retired after 20 years in the Navy. Lou was proud that through the hard work of herself and her husband, she was able to see both of her children off to college. Now that the children were on their way, she could finally re-focus on the career she loved. Up until December, 2014, Lou was attending community college classes, intent on regaining her nursing certification. She also worked to help support her kids in college.
Unfortunately, life put another bump in her road. A big bump called cancer. That December, Lou discovered that she had stage III breast cancer. The ex-nurse found herself in the shoes of her previous patients as she underwent chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, and surgery.

The treatments have left Lou weak and unable to complete her classes or work. She decided to drop out of school, but looks forward to re-enrolling in the future when she is well. Lou has exhausted her sick leave and annual leave at work, so now she and her husband rely only on his retirement income to cover their living expenses, their children’s college costs, and the cost of her treatments. She tells us that, “I’m applying for this grant from Shades of Pink Foundation California, so that it would help alleviate the financial burden my family is facing.”
Lou’s plight touched us and thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to provide her with a grant that helped pay for her phone bill, transportation costs and for groceries. We wish Lou the best in her recovery and in her goal of becoming a nurse once again.