The anxiety of a cancer journey can pale in comparison to the stress that some of our patients experience with regard to their financial picture.
Linda Taylor worked two jobs prior to her diagnosis of colon cancer last June, one as a hair dresser at a Dexter nursing home and the other as a private caregiver for clients with Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
She had a small amount of self-insurance, but nothing capable of covering care as extensive as surgery, seven months of chemotherapy and medications. As a 64-year-old single woman, Linda was in a tough spot.
To make matters worse, Linda experienced some rare and serious side effects as a result of the chemotherapy. There were days she could barely walk, and her ability to speak clearly continues to be inconsistent at best.
Linda is a creative person who likes to paint and stay busy. Unfortunately, her coordination has declined to the point where she has had to stop painting for now.
Steady improvement came to a screeching halt in late January when a severe tremor episode resulted in a setback with her speech, a two-day hospital stay and more tests. Linda still deals with numbness in her hands, fingers and feet, and she describes her movements as being in slow motion.
Bills continued to pile up, and with no income possibilities on the horizon, Linda feared she would lose her house and her car. She thought she was about to lose everything she had worked so hard to attain.
That's where the CancerCare fund provided a ray of light during Linda's darkest hours. The CancerCare fund, which is supported by The Friends of Saint Francis, provides financial assistance for Saint Francis Medical Center cancer patients who find themselves in financial distress. The Friends Gala, held in March 2016, contributed a check of $38,033 to the CancerCare fund.
The CancerCare fund provided Linda with gas coupons to help with travel expenses from her Dexter home, along with financial assistance for services provided within the Saint Francis Healthcare System - giving her a glimmer of hope for a better financial future.
Linda says that for somebody who has zero, every little bit helps.
She is trying to remain patient while looking forward to the day when her abilities return to normal.
In the meantime, Linda says her strong faith helps her believe God is with her through the journey, and the financial assistance provided through the CancerCare fund is a gift from God.
The Friends of Saint Francis is hosting its next "The Friends Gala" Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 5:30 to 11:30 pm at the Isle Casino Event Center in Cape Girardeau. We hope you can join us!
Although the weather conditions weren't exactly ideal, more than 190 golf enthusiasts came out for the 29th Annual Friends of Saint Francis Benefit Golf Tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. The fun-filled 2016 tournament raised more than $182,000 and will provide free valet parking services for Saint Francis Medical Center patients and visitors. To date, the golf event has raised more than $3.7 million for enhancing patient care in the region.
October - Beef 'O' Brady's 
