Help Me Through This Next Chapter
 

For those who may not know me, I’m April. I’m 41 years old, a mom of four, a fiancée, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and someone who has always tried to be there for the people I love. I work in the public health field, where helping others and supporting my community has always been important to me. Outside of work, I’m happiest spending time with my family, taking care of my plants, and enjoying the simple things in life. I never imagined that at 41, I would find myself facing something that would completely change the direction of my life.

I never would have thought or planned to be getting diagnosed with cancer at this age. But here I am, facing breast cancer and preparing for a journey I never expected to take.

I’m so incredibly grateful for every message, prayer, phone call, hug, and word of encouragement I’ve received thus far. I truly feel surrounded by love.

The reality is, this is scary. I have good days and I have moments where it all hits me again. I’m trying to stay strong and positive, but I’m also learning that it’s okay to admit that this is hard.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be having a double mastectomy. That sentence still feels strange and scary to say. There are so many emotions that come with knowing your body is about to change, while at the same time knowing this is a step I need to take to fight this cancer.

And while my biggest focus is getting through surgery, healing, and doing everything I can to get this cancer out of my body, there’s also the financial side of all of this.

There will be time away from work, medical expenses, surgery and recovery, appointments, and all the normal bills and responsibilities that don’t stop just because life suddenly changes.

That’s why I decided to put my pride aside and ask for help.

If you’re able to donate, please know that it truly means so much to me and my family. If you can’t, I completely understand. Sharing this, saying a prayer, checking in, or simply being there for me means more than you probably realize.

I don’t know exactly what the next few months are going to look like. I just know I’m going to keep showing up, keep fighting, and take this one day at a time.

I never asked to join this club, but here I am—and I’m going to fight like hell to get through it.

Thank you for loving me, supporting me, and walking beside me through this chapter of my life.