Everyone has that one friend or family member that they can always depend on for help, support, encouragement, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, even possibly bail money Lucia is that friend for so many. God blessed me in 1994 when he orchestrated our meeting at Summer job in Houston, and Lucia and I have been like sisters ever since. When she called me to tell me that she had been diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer, my heart sank. She had just been my encourager and prayer warrior through the loss of my Mom to cancer, and now she is in the fight of her life! It was unbelievable, to say the least.

I wish her story was cut and dry. I wish she hadn’t been laid off several months before finding that lump. A cancer diagnosis sure doesn’t make it any easier to find a new job when you have to immediately start the first of several long rounds of chemo. But Lucia is a fighter, and she was not going to take this lying down. An acquaintance, who was starting a business, asked Lucia to invest and become part of the company’s home office staff and that all the employees would be offered medical insurance. She loved the idea, and sure enough, she helped open the office and was so excited when she was mailed that insurance card. Lucia worked from home during her chemo, and was eagerly awaiting her surgery slated for December 2019. She received word from her Oncology office, though, that by no fault of her own, her medical insurance was no longer in force and they could no longer do the surgery. 

I cannot even imagine the level of stress that being blindsided like that caused my sweet friend. All we knew is that there HAS to be a way to get her surgery and radiation done. We were connected with an amazing cancer navigator who has volunteered her time to unravel this crazy cluster and help Lucia find a new Surgical Oncologist... but he is in Dallas. Lucia is applying for assistance, and she has cash paid to see doctors to get the needed referrals now. With a temporary move to Dallas and lack of income, our family will have her stay with us through her surgery and recovery — but she still has a mortgage, car payment and all that goes with that as well. 

My hope and prayer is that friends and relatives like you reading this now will feel led to help her in any way possible. She is in need of monetary donations as quickly as possible, because she will have to continue to cash pay for appointments and possibly a new PET scan before surgery. Please will you also pray that medical cost assistance will be approved for her surgery, so she can have it in Mid-February or sooner? 

We assure you that we will be careful stewards of these monetary blessings from you all, and keep detailed records. We are so incredibly thankful for this opportunity to even reach out to so many for help. We will keep you all posted here of updates as our warrior, Lucia, conquers this vile cancer. Much love to you all, and may God bless you 10 fold!

Diana Richards