GOver The Rainbow: Move Mom with Cancer Cross-Country

My Story:

     My mother and I have lived on opposite coasts for over 7 years.  I never wanted us to be apart for this long, but chasing my dreams as an independent artist and performer required me to escape the small town where I grew up and head West to find many more like-minded people and opportunities.  I always intended on bringing Mom out with me as soon as I was stable enough to facilitate her move, and after convincing her that she needed this life-altering change.  Just last year she finally agreed that this is what she wanted, but was overwhelmed with the task of travel, selling the house, and finding a new one.  She needed a big push.

     Several weeks ago, the push came in the most unfortunate of forms.  Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer, and it had spread to her liver.  For those that are unfamiliar with this disease, it is very hard to detect early, extremely fast-paced and incurable.  She showed no symptoms until just weeks before the diagnosis.  Doctors don’t know what else to do but try to prolong her life with Chemo, further worsening her quality of living in the process.  Complications from the Chemo have also lead to a blood clot (rendering her immobile) and allergic reactions to the medications prescribed.  Due to nausea, she eats very little, and without me, I fear she wouldn’t eat at all.

     Upon hearing the news, I put everything in my life on hold and booked the first flight to the East Coast to be with her.  We have no other close family to rely on, and she was very alone and needed me.  At this point, I cannot leave her, she needs me as a caregiver and emotional support.  I have not given up hope on inspiring her will to live, and restoring her happiness.

     Unfortunately, this sudden trip has taken a toll on my finances and my career.   I’ve had to turn down all gigs and opportunities indefinitely.  I cancelled a dream-come-true gig at a festival in Costa Rica, as well as had to abandon a new venue we recently opened in San Diego.  As an independent visual artist, not being able to travel makes it very hard for me to work, and there’s few opportunities to perform in one place.  Mom is not exactly financially sound herself, especially after having to quit her job, and can’t afford to support us both through this ordeal.

My Solution:

     I was beginning to lose hope and feared for our future, until I got a phone call.  I have been offered an amazing opportunity to live and work in Las Vegas.  Taking this job seems like a no-brainer.  The gig is mostly working evenings/nights, giving me the free time to care for mom and still maintain a steady income and further my career. The cost of living and buying/renting is very low in Las Vegas, and having already lived there for 6 months, I know what to expect.  I’ve already found several highly-rated Cancer Treatment Centers in the area.  The only (huge) challenge now is the move.

     In her condition, Mom can’t fly, or sit in a car for very long.  Medical transport is extremely expensive, and she has a large elderly dog who she would be heartbroken to leave behind.  My solution?  Rent an RV and take Mom on the trip of lifetime!  This seems like the only logical solution in our case.  With an RV, mom can lay comfortably in a bed, with an easily accessible restroom, kitchen, and there’s room for the dog and her belongings.  We wouldn’t have to worry about checking into and out of hotels, and it would be an amazing opportunity to spend a week on the road together, seeing the country.  She hasn’t left this small town in years.  I feel this is what needs to happen, and it needs to happen quickly so we can get settled and I can train for my new job.

My Mission:

     This idea sparked so many more in my mind.  Why not create a program to help other terminally ill patients re-unite with their families?  I personally know a few people that have been confronted with the challenge of bringing a very sick loved one closer to them so that they may be able to improve the patients quality of life while continuing to live their own.  It’s a true fact that you need to be happy yourself before you can make anyone else happy.  Positivity breeds hope, and for some, that’s all they have left to cling to.

     Somewhere, away from their current surroundings, their current situation, I feel these people can find their happiness.  I’ve also found that writing and documenting my experience is the best outlet I have for my emotions and thoughts, and would like to share them with others, all the while raising Cancer awareness, especially for overlooked and deadly forms like Pancreatic Cancer.   I’d like to become an advocate, and eventually help the cause by raising funds towards research and alternative treatments.

     I’d like to start my campaign entitled “GOver The Rainbow” where I give hope to the hopeless, and help make dreams come true.  With my background in Journalism, I’d like to produce a short documentary and blog every step in this process.  Using the material I produce, I’d jump-start a promotional campaign for “GOver The Rainbow”.  This would consist of a website and organization to facilitate the move of other immobile Cancer Patients on the trip of a lifetime.  I would like to connect with as many organizations and corporate entities as possible to support this cause.  I believe that leveraging the celebrity status of notable figures like Steve Jobs, and Patrick Swayze, who lost their long battles to Pancreatic Cancer, will draw more attention to the cause, and this could lead to even larger opportunities.

My Call to Action:

     Since the diagnosis, my friends who are my family have rallied around me showing undying support emotionally.  Without them, I would be depressed, and of little help to Mom.  They constantly offer to help any way they can, and until now, I couldn’t think of any ways possible to take them up on their kindness.

     I’m reaching out to everyone I love, everyone who’s ever known me or my work, anyone who’s ever loved someone with a debilitating disease, and anyone with the heart and will to help people that feel hopeless and alone.  Please help me raise the money to move Mom and myself across the country safely, and to start the process of helping others in this unfortunate position to be closer to the ones they love.  Any amount of money helps, and any way you can promote my cause is greatly appreciated.  I’ve always known I was put on this earth to do something big, to raise some sort of awareness, to be a spokesperson, and to help others.  All my life’s work and preparation has lead to this, and that dream is finally making sense.  The universe works in amazing ways. <3