IMPACT STORIES

Sharing impact stories of some of the Chemo Noir recipients. We are happy to have helped over 60 patients in our community since our inception in 2017. Be inspired and keep fighting the good fight!

To the amazing team at Chemo Noir:

When I was first diagnosed with lung cancer, I had no idea just how much this journey would impact my family and me. My cancer was Stage 2, and the doctors thought that the treatment would be short. We went into battle with high hopes. I say “we” because my cancer not only affects me and my health, but that of my family as well. My wife is a “glass half full” kind of gal, and that helped me keep my spirits up, but as it turned out, my treatment was not the walk in the park we had first expected. Rather, it lingered on and on with every “last treatment” resulting in another round and then another round, etc. Not only did the treatments result in the loss of my hair, the loss of my appetite, multiple bouts of thrush, frightening trips to the emergency room, but it also resulted in us beginning to doubt that we’d get through this financially. The doctors’ visits, endless prescriptions, and continuing chemo treatments became extremely expensive. To add to the emotional toll of dealing with cancer, we now had to deal with the reality of not being able to afford the treatments. My wife and I are on Social Security, and we struggle enough to get by without huge medical expenses. When we realized that we were unable to afford the treatments, we began to lose hope. We have always been a hard-working family. In fact, I worked up until my cancer prohibited me from continuing to work. My wife took on a temporary part-time job, but with each added expense, our life as we knew it disappeared. In its place was financial stress and the guilt and anguish that comes along with not being able to provide for our family’s needs.

Just when we were at our lowest, our angel, Pat, appeared. She referred us to Chemo Noir to see if they could possibly help with our situation. Your organization reached out to us and took the financial strain off our backs. It was like being led from the darkness into the light. We could breathe again. We could concentrate solely on my health without worrying about the financial burden. Our spirits were lifted, and we can continue our battle with strength and courage.

Your organization allowed us to fight the good fight, and we will continue to do so thanks to people like you. My latest scans have been good, and I truly believe that emotional health is as important to healing as physical health. You have given us back our hope. You have been the answer to our prayers, and we cannot thank you enough.

If someone were to ask me to sum up Chemo Noir in one word, it would be miracle. Your organization was the miracle my wife and I needed when we had reached our lowest point. Once again, our glass is half full.

God bless Chemo Noir. You are helping so many people fight—and WIN--the battle of their lives.

Sincerely,

Dave and Kathy 

I am profoundly grateful to Chemo Noir for their support during my battle with breast cancer. Their generosity has made an immeasurable difference on my life. I was able to receive vital financial assistance that allowed me to focus on my treatment and recovery. The relief I felt in a time of deep stress and uncertainty was incredible. Chemo Noir provided me with a ray of hope when I needed it most. I am deeply grateful for Chemo Noir’s compassion and generosity and honored to have been a beneficiary of their incredible work. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. - Aimee

Debra

I consider myself truly blessed despite my battle with cancer and grieving for my precious son to be referred to your organization. Your quick response and genuine compassion to a perfect stranger brought myself and my family to tears of joy.

Despite dealing with the diagnosis of breast cancer, my heart full of fear turned out to be nothing compared to the day the Detectives knocked on my door that Sunday morning to inform me my only son Alex was killed by a distracted driver  on his way home from work.I wanted to die...it hurts to live every day without him. My mom would make me go to chemo while I sat there and cried, wanting to give up. I had lunch with my son that day March 3rd at Outback to celebrate my birthday not ever imagining that was the last time I would hug and kiss him goodbye for the last time. My son just turned 26, he was very responsible and driven. He worked at the Beaches Bike shop all thru school and finally last year got a break. He was hired by Ringpower...he loved it !! He continued to work his second job as concert security every weekend saving to buy his own home. His many friends spoke at his service and they all spoke of his loyalty, free spirit and his LOVE for life .I then discovered at 26 yrs old he brought more joy and accomplished so much in his short time here than most people can do in a lifetime. The morning of March 9th over 500 people showed up to celebrate my son.We were blown away.To say he is missed by many is an understatement. 

I know he would want me to keep experiencing life, love and laughter for him till it It is my time to crossover and he'll be there to take my hand. I now have a guardian Angel looking over me from above and Chemo Noir Angels here..with your help I don't have the financial stress, anxiety every day and somehow feel that God sent you to me..with gratitude forever in my heart. Please feel free  to use our names, If I can go on to give strength and encourage women to...my painful story will have a purpose and make my son proud  !!! SO THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

To Chemo Noir,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank your organization for all you have done and are doing in helping our patient with financial struggles. Our patients that have received your help are extremely appreciative and thankful. They would not have had a way to pay for their treatment if it wasn't for Chemo Noir's help. The assistance you give our patient helps them to fight the battle against cancer and for their lives. It gives them encouragement and it lifts their spirit up; they can concentrate on their health without worrying about the financial burden as many drugs are very expensive.

As a Financial Counselor I can't express how beneficial and uplifting is to have a program that is always available to help patients fight their battle and gives them hope! When there was no other place for them to turn to. Thank you for your generosity, and may God continue to bless Chemo Noir.

Sincerely, 

Pat Walsh 

Financial Counselor 

Travis

MICHAEL

I was diagnosed with Colon cancer 12/20/2019. They did not know what stage, nor could they explain anything to me. I was referred to a doctor that specialized in colon surgeries. My first appointment with him was discovering I needed an Oncologist and how fast they would be performing my first surgery. In January 2020, I had my first surgery where they removed ½ of my colon, but prior to surgery I meet with my Oncologist and did all my exams to find out it was stage 4 that metastasized to the liver. The surgeon doing my colon removal tried to get to the cancer in the liver but was not successful. The next months were spent receiving chemo twice a week and finally receiving another surgery in November. We talked with the surgeon that performed my liver resection of lob 6 and 7. While the liver was out, he found another spot-on lob 8 and was able to remove that. 

My recovery time was long after the liver resection surgery, but I continued to receive my scans and blood work every 3 months. They gave me a 50% chance either way over those next few months. I started to run high fevers in January 2021 and after another scan they found a spot in my right lung. They immediately started me on steroids and antibiotics but within one week my right lung and part of my left lung had filled up. I was admitted into the hospital where they started me on medications to treat bacteria and viral infection. I was moved to high flow oxygen within a day and continue to go up over the next few days. I was set to be put on a ventilator when I started maintaining my own oxygen and over the next weeks I was finally released. This 2-year journey has been hard, but I continue to fight along with my blood work and scans every 3 months, but this is not my story.

My story starts with being adopted when I was just an infant. Going through school with amazing friends and then to college in Ohio. Marring my long-time girlfriend back in 1997 and having 3 great kids. My twins in February of 1999 and another son in March of 2000. Finding and meeting my birth mother and my 3 half-sisters. The jobs, new friends, travel and all the memories I have shared with my wife, kids and family. Those are my stories and that is what I have always been thankful for! I am blessed for the people that have come into my life and the people I meet along the way in this journey of my life story. I am thankful for Kat and everything Chemo Noir has done to help me and my family. I hope, pray and fight for more time to continue my story.

Florence

MRS. B