FUNDRAISER SUPPORT

If not for the love and support from family and friends I am certain I would not be alive today. It was fundraising that got me the funds I needed to get Alternative Cancer Treatment at CMN Hospital. I will be forever grateful! Angels For Shannon is an educational website that can map out a successful plan to raise money for a loved one’s cancer treatment.

I have always believed that for many people parting with their money, their time, and service when they have a loved one who is fighting for their life with stage 4 cancer is tough to do.

It seems to be the end of the road. The oncologist says to a cancer warrior after a long hard battle, “There is nothing left we can do for you!”. They are in shock; they go home feeling scared and tell those who they trust that their oncologist said, “it’s over.” It’s okay to break down and go through a period of defeat. Sometimes, that’s all it is, ” a moment,” or maybe longer until suddenly they feel a surge of will to fight. They don’t want to give up! They have faith in God or sheer will and do not see the expiration date stamped on their foot! They had heard of miracle stories, where success had happened even when all seemed lost! The thought is like a power surge through their mind, their soul, and body” What if I can be that miracle too! It’s a long shot, but, “What if”?

It’s convenient for friends or family to say “It’s time for them to understand they are in denial.” Is it worth it to “invest money in false hope”? Fear sets in, and they believe they can’t even see or recognize a scam! I say this because many people don’t support alternative cancer treatment and call it snake oil. There is a list of reasons why they will not support. Why take from their children’s college fund? It’s desperate and selfish! Is it worth all the effort of fundraising? What about their friends and family that have raised money in the past for prior treatment. They feel they did their part, so enough is enough, this is now too much of a burden! Can you imagine having to fight for your life yet again and how they must feel?

I was discouraged with the negative information from my doctors when I had a recurrence with stage 4 breast cancer. Let me tell you something, though; I am glad I didn’t give up! My loved ones allowed me to be that burden, and it was so humbling. I was afraid the entire time! I felt so scared of wasting their time and money but I also made a promise to help others should I survive against all the odds!

It’s easier sometimes to try to convince them just to give up, to believe what their doctor said. Just offer and help “Get their affairs in order” because after all, their doctor said it’s time! ” It’s convenient, yes, but to be selective and choose to listen to their physician who is limited in treatment options and ignore the will of another human being who wants to fight to survive is cruel! It is wrong to persuade them to give up if they feel there is any hope left!

I am proof; as well as many others that we are all a possibility for a miracle! Thank you for all who stood by me to keep up the fight when my UCLA doctor ran out of options. I never did chemotherapy because I had pneumonia and staph infection in my lungs. The breast cancer spread to my lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. He did all he was allowed to do, but his best was not acceptable! When you walk out of that office with such discouraging words you are changed, believe me.

Once the shock wore off and after some deep personal introspection, I didn’t waste time searching for treatment. I found a trustworthy hospital in Mexico, CMN Hospital’s Alternative Cancer Treatment Center. It’s been there thirty years. I never asked for a success rate because all my life I fought for individuality growing up with a twin sister. I used to get sick all the time; she was stronger than me. People always said. You two are identical, and I knew they were wrong and how unique we were. I even got mononucleosis, and we shared a room. She never got it in those two months I don’t know anyone with my personality, my soul, body or immune system. We have a chance at a miracle. We are not clones.

Getting my affairs in order as the doctors say, could mean anything. For me, it meant fundraising and getting ready for “Mexico”! It doesn’t matter what they tell us. There are no guarantees in this life. So, how can anyone give up when someone has the will to survive.

Tough love is where your loved ones roll up their sleeves and say, if you don’t want to quit fighting even though the doctor said, “there is nothing else to be done, then we will fight with you!” Many times a someone battling cancer does not wish to be a financial burden on anyone” We need to be there especially since they do not feel well most of the time and are tired and scared. We need to get a team together and raise the money. We demonstrate to everyone the passionate mission we are on to support our sister, brother, friend or whomever it is in our life that we need to help.

It is never someone’s time to go if they want to live. We must ask how we can help. At the very least cancer warriors are emotionally worn out! Respect their choice of treatment and then plan a way to make it happen.

Angels for Shannon has fundraising resources.

Tough love is when we make sacrifices for someone we love. We are giving money that was planned for something else to someone who wants to fight to live. We already understand that whatever treatment they choose has no guarantee, yet it has worked for other people battling cancer. That’s hard to accept and yet real honest! If they have faith in the treatment because it is a stone left unturned and they feel it must be tried, then it is worth the effort regardless of the outcome. (Please do not torture them by asking what the success rate is of where they choose to go?) No one knows. There would be too many variables especially if they tried prior treatments. The type of cancer I battled in 2010 had a 1% success rate, and now I’m healthy and on a life mission to help others who don’t want to give up. There is hope! It was worth the fight to be able to do what I am doing.

If someone you love has a battle left in them and you are supporting them, THANK YOU! I am grateful for you. You are an earth angel. If you are not helping, please try and do what you can, even if you do not support their treatment plan. Faith is the biggest part of their battle and if they ever needed your love and support, now is that time! Without it, trust me you will feel it later on in life the closer you are to them. It will hurt you.