In Her Own Words: Catherine Pollack
I am so grateful to The Pink Fund for helping my family and me. Without their help, we may have become homeless...
When the nurse told me the doctor wanted to speak with me after a second, more detailed mammogram, necessary because of dense breast tissue, I knew there was a problem. "You have cancer..." I was alone and the doctor was very direct and routine. He placed my hand on the lump so I could feel it. I was overcome with emotion and cried. I couldn't believe I never noticed it. The doctor sent me to a breast care coordinator who was very sympathetic and helpful, and set up an appointment with a surgeon for the next day. All the while, I cried and wished my husband were there. The next day, my husband went with me for the biopsy. Things really looked bad. The surgeon gave me a choice - mastectomy or lumpectomy with sentinel node removal - the hardest decision of my life. I prayed and researched and put the decision in God's hands.
My husband is disabled and I am the moneymaker of the household. Out of work, financial struggles set in. Our gas was shut off at home, and we had little money for rent or food. While at the Breast Center, my husband read about The Pink Fund. We were desperate. When I received the e-mail from The Pink Fund that they would pay my rent, I cried tears of joy. I don't know what we would have done without their help. Things at least seem doable with less stress. When I am financially able, I plan to give back so another cancer patient can receive the help they need. I implore anyone who reads this and is able to contribute to The Pink Fund. The money is actually distributed to cancer patients and not some CEO making millions of dollars. Cancer has changed my life, but I have every intention of beating it and continuing a fully active and productive life. THANK YOU PINK FUND, YOU ARE TRULY A LIFE SAVER!
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