So while my chemotherapy sessions go by, more work is being done behind the scenes. So many people reached out to me asking, “What do you need? What can we do to help?” My answer was always, “nothing, I am doing okay, just hanging in there.” Which in my mind, I was! I was still working 4 days a week, rock climbing, snowboarding and working out every day. My life seemed pretty “normal”. I felt guilty accepting any help at all. However, one thing that many people around me wanted to do was help fundraise more money to help with the future medical expenses and the second half of the IVF process we would have to do later on if we want to have children. So my friends and coworkers got creative… my friend/coworker (also named Amanda) came up with an idea to sell bracelets. They would say “Breeden Brave” on a pink band to help relieve any lingering medical bills and to help with the daunting expenses of future IVF. She was selling them for $25 a piece and they went FAST. She ended up having to order more and even those went fast! Coworkers at the hospital I worked at were buying them, family, friends and people I didn’t even know. SUPPORT. Everywhere I turned. It was always hard for me to accept money or gifts…I was working! I was fine, right?
Well, looking back. I am very grateful for all of the fundraising and help because now my husband and I are looking to start that second half of the IVF process this year to prevent passing along this genetic mutation to our future children and it will cost an additional $15,000, not including the medication (unknown cost).
So grateful doesn’t even touch how I feel.
Mandafit 