Penny's Story: This isn't Penny's first fight with cancer. She's beaten breast cancer twice before. But this time is different. She's been diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and she started chemotherapy. This time, she's also doing it without Ray. We lost him almost ten years ago, and there isn't a day we don't feel how much he's missing from this. But Penny is not doing this alone. She has her daughters, her grandkids, her brothers, her cousins, and more friends than we can count who have already stepped up to ask, "What can I do?" This page is our answer to that question. The Road Ahead: Penny's treatment plan is a long one. She'll be in chemotherapy for the next 5 to 6 months, followed by radiation five days a week for five weeks, and then surgery to remove the mass. It's going to be a hard road, physically, emotionally, and financially. We're sharing it because we know so many people love her and want to help, and we want to make it easy to know how. How You Can Help: Show up for her, however she needs it. Call her. Send her a card. If she's feeling up to it, visit her, take her on a walk, or just get her out of the house for a bit. Some days that will mean a lot. Other days, rest is what she needs most, and we'll let you know how she's doing. Once radiation starts, we'll likely put together a sign-up sheet for rides to and from appointments. Chemo is mostly covered for now, but we'll reach out if that changes. Gift cards, for the everyday stuff. Penny is on a special diet right now, so please don't bring meals by. It's not that we don't appreciate the thought, it's just that her body needs to eat very specific things right now. What helps most is being able to choose what she needs, when she needs it. Gift cards to the following are hugely appreciated: - Grocery stores - Amazon - The pharmacy - DoorDash (for the days cooking just isn't in the cards) - Visa gift cards Her Amazon Wish List. If you'd rather send something specific, Penny has an Amazon Wish List with items that would help her right now. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Z5TG2PS1JN73?ref_=wl_share Without Ray, and without a paycheck coming in, the day-to-day costs add up fast on top of everything else she's carrying. We don't want money to be one more thing on her list of worries. We want her to be able to focus everything she has on getting well. Thank you for loving her the way you do. #PurpleForPenny
**Penny is on a special diet right now, so please don't bring meals by. It's not that we don't appreciate the thought, it's just that her body needs to eat very specific things right now.