Update

MoonDragon
MoonDragon Member Posts: 183
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello All,

I've been MIA for quite awhile. Things just seemed to go to hell in a handbasket over night...however, I AM still alive to talk about it! lol
I had my colon resection in October and two days later our apartment flooded.
The week after that, my husband's company went belly up and he's now unemployed.
We lost our place and my kids are farmed out, my pets are farmed out, my belongings and "comfort zone" is packed away in storage and I'm sleeping on an air matress in a friend's spare bedroom while going through the pain and discomfort of chemo and radiation. At the moment I'm homeless, pennyless, childless, petless and creature comfortless! Boy, talk about it all going at once. However there is always a silver lining. We've got our friend's spare bedroom, my son is living with his dad and my daughter with my mother and friends have temporarily adopted our multitude of pets.
I did chemo and radiation and thought I was on the road to recovery when my Gall Bladder blew two weeks ago and they found cancer in that as well so I'll have a Pet/Ct scan done next tuesday and go from there.
I'm scared and angry and feeling helpless. In addition to the cancer, I lost everything I had the first time around and to see the anguish in my children's eyes when I told them about the Gall Bladder cancer just broke my heart! Part of me is just so pissed off for them. This disease not only eats our bodies it eats the hearts of those who love us. I try to stay strong but it's hard. My doc says that gall bladder cancer isn't all that common and that it prolly spread from my liver. He'll be checking out the liver, lungs and pancreas specifically for hot spots. He says if there's only one or two spots, those can be surgically removed and if there's more that they'll hit it hard with chemo. He also said that because the cancer in my Gall Bladder is the same as my colon that there's a good chance the chemo wasn't effective for the colon cancer. The cancer is on the inside of the Gall Bladder so it isn't something that was spread from the colon. It's a brand new beast. Scary..although lucky that the Gall Bladder alerted us to check for more.
I'm looking at losing my insurance next month. My doctor says he'll still take me if I'm on Medi-Cal but that the benefits won't be as good and if there's a way to go with Cobra to do it. I'm really scared about my finances. I haven't made a truck payment since October and I'm lucky they don't know where I'm at or I'd be walking to treatment.
Thanks for listening to me and allowing me to vent. Some days it's just hard to keep my head above water.

Love and healing to all of you!

Jorie

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Wow. Where to start? You have SO much going on. I will pray that you'll have some relief soon. Hang in there and keep us posted.
  • Denise1966
    Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
    Good luck with everything and my prayers are with you.
  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    Have you checked into welfare or State aid or even help through the American Cancer Society? There are many programs out there, they're just not mentioned.

    I have always been told that God does not give us more than we can handle. I know it probably doesn't help right now, but he is there with you.

    I will say a prayer for you ................ AMEN
  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    Jorie,what strong woman you are, you are going through so much,I will be praying for you.
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    Hi Jorie,

    I'm so sorry you have to deal with all this while handling your treatment and new diagnosis. It seems to me that finances, insurance and family should be automatically taken care of once the beast is diagnosed. Unfortunately, we are not fortunate enough to have a plan like that, and have to rely on family and friends. Thank God for family and friends. Keep strong; you're already awesomely strong. Sending prayers your way,
    Kirsten
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Oh, Jorie, I am sending big hugs...

    I, too, started feeling like the female equal of Job...all sorts of things went wrong just at the time of diagnosis, with another diagnosis of cancer thrown in!!!!!

    Concentrate on you. And treating yourself as well as possible. Let everything else slide. Believe it or not, things will take care of themselves...and YOU need to give YOURSELF the best environment for the best possible future!

    Easier said than done, I know...but if I can survive it, you can...I am the biggest scaredy cat on the planet! And now, 3 years, 2 cancers, death of my ex, death of my daughter, and all else (whew! I'm stopping..), I am cancer free, have my hair back, and find small things to smile about...
    As you said, you already know how to count your blessings! Keep it up!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • rmcgraw
    rmcgraw Member Posts: 15
    I can sort of sympathize with you. I just filed for bankruptcy yesterday. I was totally unprepared financially for this "gift" and ended up running my credit cards up charging medication, food, etc. Luckily, my son is grown and gone and it is just me. I have managed to hang on but at times, it is really tough. I can only imagine what you are going through.

    What about disability with SSI? I know that it is sometimes hard to get on but I think it may be away to help. Also, check with your local Red Cross, AFDC and other agencies in your area. Your hospital or doctor may be able to put you in touch with a social worker that can help you sort through the maze and hopefully, get you and your family some much needed help. Good luck, best wishes and know that you as well as everyother cancer survivor is in my prayers.
  • pink05
    pink05 Member Posts: 550
    Hi,

    Sounds like you've been through a very difficult time lately-to say the least. I'm sorry things haven't been going too well, but things can only get better, right? People always say that God won't give you more than you can handle, and I really do believe that. Sounds like you have been strong through all this. Keep your chin up. I'll be keeping you and your family in my prayers.

    -Lee-
  • MoonDragon
    MoonDragon Member Posts: 183
    rmcgraw said:

    I can sort of sympathize with you. I just filed for bankruptcy yesterday. I was totally unprepared financially for this "gift" and ended up running my credit cards up charging medication, food, etc. Luckily, my son is grown and gone and it is just me. I have managed to hang on but at times, it is really tough. I can only imagine what you are going through.

    What about disability with SSI? I know that it is sometimes hard to get on but I think it may be away to help. Also, check with your local Red Cross, AFDC and other agencies in your area. Your hospital or doctor may be able to put you in touch with a social worker that can help you sort through the maze and hopefully, get you and your family some much needed help. Good luck, best wishes and know that you as well as everyother cancer survivor is in my prayers.

    Thank you all for your support and prayers. I made an appointment yesterday to see a Social Worker in my area so hopefully there'll be some relief soon! It also helped to hear your stories and know I'm not alone.
    Love and healing blessings to all of you!
    Jorie
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    Jorie,

    You're amazing! I cannot imagine the road you are walking and yet your post still exudes a sense of strength and courage. I tend to look at the whole God thing differently--I think He gives us the Strength to make it through what life throws our way. I never for a minute think God "gave" me cancer. You seem to be a walking testimony to that!

    I'm so glad you went for some help. You'd think there would be some kind of program to help you out during this time.

    If you find that the chemo didn't work there are so many things you can be doing to boot that cancer out of your bod, the first being to alkalize your system with lots of veggies--especially green ones--and fresh fruits.

    Some great books for this info:

    A Cancer Battle Plan by Anne Frahm

    The pH Miracle by Dr. Robert Young

    Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Furhman

    Crazy Sexy Cancer by Kris Carr

    I know you didn't ask for any of this info but it's hard to keep silent with info when you know it could possibly help. I can't help you with your finances, your housing situation, or employment but I can pass on some things I do know that helped me a ton.

    Best wishes.

    peace, emily
  • pink05
    pink05 Member Posts: 550
    2bhealed said:

    Jorie,

    You're amazing! I cannot imagine the road you are walking and yet your post still exudes a sense of strength and courage. I tend to look at the whole God thing differently--I think He gives us the Strength to make it through what life throws our way. I never for a minute think God "gave" me cancer. You seem to be a walking testimony to that!

    I'm so glad you went for some help. You'd think there would be some kind of program to help you out during this time.

    If you find that the chemo didn't work there are so many things you can be doing to boot that cancer out of your bod, the first being to alkalize your system with lots of veggies--especially green ones--and fresh fruits.

    Some great books for this info:

    A Cancer Battle Plan by Anne Frahm

    The pH Miracle by Dr. Robert Young

    Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Furhman

    Crazy Sexy Cancer by Kris Carr

    I know you didn't ask for any of this info but it's hard to keep silent with info when you know it could possibly help. I can't help you with your finances, your housing situation, or employment but I can pass on some things I do know that helped me a ton.

    Best wishes.

    peace, emily

    Let me clarify what I wrote... Things happen in life - good and bad. I think that sometimes the bad things are allowed to happen-maybe for a greater purpose. When my father was first diagnosed with cancer, he asked, why did God do this to me, and for a while, I asked the same thing. But since his diagnosis, I have been more spiritual and closer to Jesus. I began to depend on him more during the tough times, and he did give me the strength to get through what was a horrible time in my life. That's why I wrote that "God doesn't give us more than we can handle." I don't believe that God gave anyone cancer, but I do believe that he is in control of everything and he gives us the strength to deal with our sufferings.

    God bless,

    -Lee-
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    pink05 said:

    Let me clarify what I wrote... Things happen in life - good and bad. I think that sometimes the bad things are allowed to happen-maybe for a greater purpose. When my father was first diagnosed with cancer, he asked, why did God do this to me, and for a while, I asked the same thing. But since his diagnosis, I have been more spiritual and closer to Jesus. I began to depend on him more during the tough times, and he did give me the strength to get through what was a horrible time in my life. That's why I wrote that "God doesn't give us more than we can handle." I don't believe that God gave anyone cancer, but I do believe that he is in control of everything and he gives us the strength to deal with our sufferings.

    God bless,

    -Lee-

    Amen sister! ;-)