Breast Cancer Patient Drives to Life-Saving Treatment
Earth-Shaking News
Amanda can remember the exact day that cancer crashed into her life. “I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer on July 29, 2021.” She wasn’t the only person affected. Her husband, Todd, along with their three daughters, were now in the fight against cancer too.
Triple negative breast cancer is named because the cancer’s growth isn’t fueled by estrogen, progesterone, or the HER2 protein. It’s not as common as other types of breast cancer, occurring in about 10% to 20% of patients. Many medications that can treat other forms of breast cancer prove ineffective. The odds of surviving triple negative breast cancer are lower than with other forms, and there is a higher rate of it coming back.
This grim information hit Amanda and her family harder than anything ever had. “It rocked our world.”
Roadblock to Care
Amanda’s local doctors couldn’t help her. They referred her to a specialist in Nashville, Tennessee. There was just one problem. The hospital where the specialist worked was almost 200 miles away from Amanda’s home in Fulton, Mississippi.
“My husband is the only one working,” said Amanda. “With only his income and the size of our family, there’s no extra money to spend on long-distance transportation.”
Resources were running low, but Amanda’s time was running lower. The costs of long-distance transportation had put up a roadblock on her way to life-saving care. What would she do now?
Better Way Through
At a critical point, Amanda found out about Mercy Medical Angels’ ground transportation program. Mercy Medical Angels sent Amanda gas cards, which covered the cost of driving such a long way.
“My husband Todd drove me to all my appointments,” said Amanda. “Gas was one less expense we didn’t have to worry about.”
It was a better way through the journey to healing.
"So Grateful and Thankful"
Amanda’s battle with cancer hasn’t been won just yet. But with assistance from Mercy Medical Angels’ ground transportation program, her chances of surviving are much better.
“We are so grateful and thankful for the gas cards Mercy Medical Angels sent us,” said Amanda. “I wouldn’t have been able to get to my cancer treatment if it weren’t for them.”
Thanks to Mercy Medical Angels’ ground transportation program, cancer patients like Amanda don’t have to face their challenges alone.
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