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Hello there Creative Mama family, Angie here interrupting our regular articles to bring you something close to my heart. Fellow blogger turned friend, Chele Chestnut is one of those amazing souls. A rare, beautiful, giving soul. She was one of the very first readers here, commenting and encouraging me – though we didn’t know one another one bit.

The last two years we’ve gotten to know each other better – she’s become so much more than “one of my first readers”, and I’m so thankful to have her in my life. I’ve asked the incredibly humble Chele, begged her actually, to allow me to share her story with our community here.

I’ve not done anything like this before here on the blog, but my heart is being led so much so, that I knew YOU, our amazing readers would be able to help. Whether through prayers, support, or financial means. Please take a moment to read her story, in her words.

It was about six weeks ago. All of my children started school. It was the first time ever that I had all of my children going to school and I was home alone, for the exception of my unemployed husband (since July). Day three of all of my children in school, I started feeling really horrible. Tired, dizzy/lightheaded, couldn’t focus right, my heart seemed to be jumping out of my chest. I thought maybe it was just anxiety however it happened while I was driving and it plain freaked me out. I went to the doctor and they took so many tests and blood work that I lost count. They found that my blood pressure was spiking and dropping, I have a heart murmur and two valves that are not working correctly, as well as high cholesterol. Then they took more tests and found that I have reactive hypoglycemic. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is my sugar spiking and dropping, it turns into Type 2 Diabetes.

Then my worst fear happened, I found out I have nodules (lumps) on my thyroid. They did a biopsy on two of the four. I just found out on September 28th that it is cancer. They will be taking out my thyroid and checking my lymph nodes to make sure it has not moved. I do not have a date for surgery yet, I will find out this Friday. They say that it is the “best” kind of cancer to have because it is the most curable. However, if you’ve had this scare before you know how annoying that statement is. Cancer is cancer… the scare is still there. I have four children that need their Mama and a husband that I still have dreams with.

Through all of this I also have a skin lesion on my abdominal area that my family doctor noticed just last week. I never thought anything of it. However, she was concerned because of size, color and area so she sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist took a nice size sample because she was also concerned. I will not find out results until today or tomorrow. This is something I have not shared with anyone other than my Mom and my husband. There is so much going on that I didn’t want to put anymore scares out there. But, if this comes back abnormal I will need surgery for this as well.

What really has me concerned though is that because my husband makes “too much” in unemployment per month, we are not eligible for Medicaid help any longer. I have many appointments coming up with specialists. Also I have way too much medicine to buy for all of the health issues. One of my medicines is $100 per month. I am told that I MAY be eligible for Retroactive Medicaid when it’s all said and done. As well as, if I am eligible I will still have to pay a very large deductible before they will pay the rest. However, I still need to have these appointments, surgery, and lots of prescription medicine on top of our monthly bills we are already having trouble paying.

Angie has been a long time online friend. She has helped me with so much already in the blogging industry. I know she would like you to help us financially and I thank you for that if you are able. Honestly prayers are enough. I have faith that God will bring us through this. The blogging community has been here for me more than “in real life” folks. I am so thankful to be part of this community! God is good even when it seems so dark.

This post has been one of the hardest things to write. I have only shared with a select few online friends about our whole situation. However, I believe God placed Angie in my path for a reason and I have decided to be humble and tell our whole story even if it is embarrassing with the financial end of things.

Chele Chestnut is the mother of 4 children and wife to an amazing husband. She is a lover of Jesus. Chele writes on her personal blog at The Bona Fide Life and is the founder of Gather Inspirit. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Will you help?

Can you donate even $5? Of the thousands of you that read every day, what if even 100 of us donated $5? Let’s show our blogging community that we stick together. I appreciate it, Chele and her family appreciate it. Thank you.

*Note: you do not need a Paypal account to donate*

About Angie

Angie is the founder and editor of The Creative Mama, who lives in the beautiful Bay Area, CA. She also blogs her own personal journey at angiewarren.com. When she isn't writing or taking photos, Angie can be found having tickle fights with her boys and frequenting the local Starbucks.

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