Please meet C.J., a mother to a 24-year-old son, a good friend, a daughter, and a sister. C.J. has been a “Nomad” for the past 21 years, wandering from place to place, living with friends as a roommate, paying rent and for necessities. C.J. loves to cook for people, do small house repairs, help people design their kitchens through being a cabinet specialist at either Home Depot or Lowe’s, and deliver goodies through DoorDash.
Seven years ago, in September of 2018, C.J. was diagnosed with breast cancer in the left breast, and it was discovered that C.J. had several spots of cancer on the cervix. C.J. went through rounds of chemo and radiation. In March of 2019, C.J. had a double mastectomy, and seven lymph nodes were removed around the area on the left side, causing future limb risk. In October of 2019, C.J. had a complete hysterectomy to remove the cancer cells before they could reactivate. Regular scans and bloodwork were done yearly to check on C.J.’s health until C.J. skipped a year in 2022 due to lots of chaos.
On December 24th of 2023, C.J. went to the E.R. because of labored breathing, and the x-ray showed possible cancer on the outside of the lungs. On October 27th, a pulmonologist set up a biopsy on the material, which was performed on January 11th of 2024. On January 23rd, C.J. was diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer of the lung and began seeing the original oncologist who prescribed Iibrance. Every three months, there were scans and bloodwork to make sure things were not progressing. In March of 2024, C.J. lost Medicaid and was off medication through August 26th of 2024 when a doctor through a clinic took C.J. on as a cash-pay with financial difficulties patient. The medication had to be changed from Iibrance to Kisquali due to affordability.
On September 16th of 2024, a rescan and bloodwork showed the cancer had spread to the ribcage, the diaphragm, and the inside along with the outside of both lungs, believed to have been caused from being unmedicated for several months. Everything seemed to be going O.K. with the new medication in all the scans and bloodwork until April 29th of 2025 when C.J. was admitted into the hospital with labored breathing that turned out to be a buildup of fluid in the right lung that had to be drained. The fluid was sent off for testing to see if it was medication-related or just the cancer progressing as C.J. was released from the hospital on May 1st. On May 3rd, it was confirmed that the fluid was ridden with cancer. C.J. finally got approved for Medicaid again and went back to the original oncologist who informed C.J. that once the lungs start filling with fluid, it will continue to happen.
On May 19th of 2025, C.J. returned to the E.R. with labored breathing and severe fatigue. They admitted C.J. due to low oxygen levels and the need to have the right lung drained of fluid again. C.J. was released from the hospital on May 23rd with oxygen tanks and told at this time working would not be possible. C.J. felt defeated because bills would not be paid and the car being used for work and doctor appointments is in the son’s name with a balance of $6,300. C.J. spoke with family and friends, and it was decided that C.J. would move in with her sister and her family ( 9 people in the household bringing total to 10 with C.J.) and would have to surrender the car back to the bank. C.J. and her son still owe the bank for the loan with or without the car being in their possession. C.J. went home from the hospital, packed up belongings, and waited for the car to be repossessed.
On May 30th, C.J. moved in with her sister, and the cancer case was transferred easily to a new cancer team at Mary Bird Perkins in Covington, Louisiana. The new doctor and team met with C.J. on June 2nd, and C.J. was scheduled for an Echo on June 5th and a chemo port placed in the right side of the upper chest for new chemo meds on the 7th. On June 9th, C.J. went back to the doctor and was told the Echo was good and needs repeating every 3 months, was given paperwork to apply for disability, and told that the chemo will be administered as soon as Medicaid approves the medication.
Since C.J. is no longer working, all bills (food, clothing, shelter, cell phone, medical and personal transportation, bank for defaulted car loan, and burial when that time comes) fall on C.J.’s sister and family. C.J. could really use some financial help to cover the costs of living with metastasized breast cancer and the bills coming in. If you could see it in your heart to help C.J., it would be greatly appreciated. If you cannot give, C.J. and those in charge of C.J.’s care could use lots of prayers for guidance, healing, and peace. Please feel free to share C.J.’s story, and may God Bless You!
