Quetzal Survives Hospital Food! And Hernia Surgery!

Hi Friends,
It has been about one year since our friend, Quetzal, found out that she had Ovarian & Uterine Cancer & had her initial surgery. Since then she has survived chemo, a broken shoulder, and most recently, hospital food (during her stay at Sloane Kettering for surgery on her hernia). I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone for giving in the past, and all of the support that people have shown in so many different ways as she went through this process.

The cancer is in remission, which is great news! Now she is battling the long-term side effects of chemo. I didn't know previous to this process that chemo affects the body in so many ways. For example, Quetzal has neurapathy in her feet and hands (lost about 80% of nerve sensation), her bones have become brittle, and it will created havoc in her immune system for at least a year. I think it's been a learning experience for everyone.

Quetzal's hernia operation (a hernia that was caused by her original operation) went well, but she will be spending the next 4 weeks recuperating & on a very limited work schedule. She was in the hospital for 5 days and her mother is visiting to help out. During this time, she will continue to have bills to pay that will exceed her income for working one day a week (I am hoping she will keep to this schedule and focus on her physical recovery... ahem!).

If you can help out in anyway, it would be really great contribution to the work that she does and to her personally. We have already received a generous donation of $600.00 from the Hayes-Humber family for her rent, and would like to encourage people to give whatever they can just to help out for this month. Her health insurance now covers 90% of her bills at Sloane-Kettering, which is really great, but there are still living expenses and helping to pay for her mother to be here in this busy, crazy time.

Her budget is as follows:
Rent $650.00
Utilities $125.00
Plane ticket for Mom$550.00
Food $475.00
Transportation (monthly passes for Q and her mom)$156.00
Bills (credit cards & student loans)$425.00
Health Insurance $495.00
Total:$2,876.00
Thank You Hayes-Humber family! -$600.00
Remainder Needed:$2,276.00

There are two ways to donate, either through PayPal or by sending a check to
M. Ceja
530 West 157th, Apt. 2D
New York, NY 10032
checks should be made out to Monica Ceja

If you have any questions, please email this address or bitterblossom@gmail.com.
Thanks again, and take care!
Best,
AiMara Lin, friend & comrade of Martha Quetzal Ceja