I am BRCA positive. I was handed that horrible news and nearly three years and $30,000 in medical bills later, I'm missing a few accessories. I’m also trying to pay my mounting medical bills. I'll cut to the chase and tell you how you can help, and if you'd like, you can read on to find out why you are helping. 

I have been chronicling my experiences with a series of cancer-preventative surgeries, etc. on my blog, Joey's Journal, and one of my videos became so popular, I'm now earning money on YouTube every time someone clicks on the ads that show up after a few seconds. Go to  My Post Surgery Body where I hope you will click, click, click away at the ads to help me raise money to pay off my medical bills. Please, tell your friends to click on the ads. 

Now for a little background…In October 2008, the first slice took away my ovaries and tubes. Then, in May 2009, I had my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy and TRAM Flap reconstruction surgery (with another surgery to follow). Throw in some MRIs, a CTscan or two (had one this week, as a matter of fact — wanted to make sure they made the necessary appointment prior to the new year and a new deductible), some visits to the emergency room, and suddenly my bills (after health insurance paid their chunk) have risen to nearly $30,000.

It may seem to some not to make sense why I took such drastic measures to secure my future, but once you find out about my family history, suddenly it makes sense for me to do what I did, especially if I want to be around to watch my children grow up. My sister has had breast cancer twice. The first time, being in her 30s, her insurance company told her not to worry about those lumps that became an aggressive cancer and grew/spread quickly (within the month’s time my family fought to get her tests and treatment). She had a bone marrow transplant and an abusive amount of chemo; she managed to beat the doctor's initial “six months to live” prognosis. A few years ago, she got breast cancer again. She is a survivor yet again! It was during her second round of breast cancer I thought I should be tested.

Moreover, having my father's mother and sister both die from breast cancer, my chances of getting breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer were extremely high, considering my BRCA genetic mutation.

I work, but I don’t make much income and I’m limited to the kinds of work I can do because of some ongoing health/pain issues (thus, today’s CT Scan). My husband works (it‘s his insurance), but like many people these days, his income isn’t what it used to be. 

Please click on my ads and tell others to do the same. It doesn’t cost anything other than a few moments to click on the link and click on an ad or two.

Thank you! 

Joelle