Hi, my name is Francis Irwin. I’m a proud mother of two amazing boys-one graduating college this month and the other entering his sophomore year this fall. They are my world, and everything I’ve fought through has been for them.

Since December 2023, my life has taken a devastating and unexpected turn.

What started as a short hospital stay became the beginning of a long life-threatening medical journey. By January 2024, I had to take a leave of absence from work due to my declining health. In the months that followed I battled severe illness, including a massive kidney stone, fibromyalgia, and complications from long-term peptic ulcer disease.

In April 2024, I underwent surgery that was expected to be routine-but it turned into a three week hospitalization due to serious complications. One of my altars had attached to my pancreas, creatimg a dangerous and complex situation.

I was discharged with multiple drain tubes, a feeding tube and open wounds that required constant to care.

My health continue to decline. By June, I underwent a Whipple procedure, removing my gallbladder, part of my pancreas, and part my small intestine. My body struggled to recover leading to repeated hospitalizations.

In October 2024, I was hospitalized with pneumonia and septic. I entered a catatonic state for 72 hours and was bedridden for two weeks. During this time, I had to shave my head-something that was emotionally devastating on top of everything else. When I was discharged, I couldn’t walk and struggled to tell the difference between dreams and reality. It took months just to begin regaining basic strength.

While fighting for my life, I was also living in an abusive environment. In April 2025, my abuser was finally arrested.

In June 2025, I had my right kidney removed. During surgery, my lung collapsed and part of my diaphragm had to be removed. Just days after returning home. I was forced to leave my home of four years and even give up my dog.

Since then, I’ve been hospitalized multiple times due to infections and complications, including a 5 1/2-week stay when antibiotics failed and I developed a hole in my colon. During that stay, doctors discovered lesions on my liver. I was still dependent on a feeding tube and ongoing medical care.

On top of everything I could not afford my health insurance and I lost it in November 2025 and have been denied for Medicaid and disability, despite multiple appeals.

By December 2025, those lesions had spread to my pelvis and up my spine. They also found old blood clots in my liver and at one point it was only receiving 50% of the normal blood flow.

Since then, I have been under the care of the oncology team at Emory. In March, I underwent outpatient back surgery and hopes of relieving the severe pain caused by the lesions, but unfortunately, it did not provide relief.

I have been receiving financial assistance through Emory, but that support ended the end of March. Without insurance or financial resources, I have not been able to continue with needed treatments or procedures. Around that same time, I was told I needed to see a transplant specialist due to my liver condition. After following up with a doctor at Saint Joseph’s and completing all necessary labs, I need a liver transplant.

Facing the reality of another major surgery, along with the financial burden and lack of insurance, I made the incredibly difficult decision not to move forward with additional medical procedures. I have been given an estimated two years to live. My greatest hope is to be there long enough to see my youngest son graduate from college, which is three years away.

During this already overwhelming time, I had been staying with a dear friend. Due to landlord issues, I was only given three days’ notice to leave. By the grace of God, kind friends helped me secure, a temporary stay out of extended stay hotel, but it is only paid through the 25th.

I am humbly asking for prayers and any financial assistance you may be able to provide. Every bit helps more than I can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I will be praying for each of you.

God bless