A few years ago I felt like everything in my life was perfect. I had a steady job, good friends and great relationships with all of my family members. Nothing seemed like it could go wrong. That was until my grandmother was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer.
Our family was in complete shock as my grandfather called us on the phone one night relaying the terrible news. My grandmother had always been healthy and active and was one person I least expected to ever get sick. The news was devastating and left me wondering what would happen. My grandparents did not make a lot of money and my grandmother had to work in order to make it by. Not only did I worry about her health but I also worried about their financial situation as she would most likely have to take a leave of absence from work as she went through chemo and other cancer screenings. I wished more than anything that I had enough funds to help pay for the bills that would follow.
The two weeks following the diagnosis were some of the hardest weeks of my life. I was stressed, worried and was trying to think of anything I could possibly do to provide my grandparents with the money that they would so desparately need. Nearly three weeks after the diagnosis I was given a substantial raise and work. Other than my grandma eventually beating cancer, I considered this one of the biggest miracles in my life. I decided to use the extra income and put that towards helping my grandparents pay their medical bills. This allowed my grandmother to focus on beating cancer and not have to worry about paying for the bills that would follow.
My grandmother is now cancer free and I consider her one of my biggest hero's. Unfortunately, she lost most of her strength and was unable to go back to work due to the disabilities that came from her breast cancer. However, we contacted a disability attorney who helped us fight for long-term disability benefits for my grandmother. She continues to live each day to the fullest and despite her setbacks I am grateful that she has peace of mind regarding her health and financial situation.
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