Like Zen Trainer, I’m a breast cancer survivor. There are many of us here at our virtual home.
The anxiety and worry that accompanies treatment and recovery is a journey of its own, and this is the journey zen trainer is presently on.
Every cancer patient has a unique treatment plan. Zen Trainer has had multiple surgeries to eradicate the cancer resulting in disfigurement that must be surgically addressed. She’s in need of continued treatment but will lose her insurance at the end of this month because her carrier is ceasing to do business in her state.
Needing one more surgery before losing her insurance, she is scrambling to get the after care and money she’ll need to take care of herself, her pets and her home. Having already had multiple surgeries and a brush with foreclosure, she’s understandably anxious.
In an attempt to mitigate her anxiety, friends of zen trainer have been posting diaries to elicit support for her recovery. Sara R tells us what she needs here, with an excerpt:
ZenTrainer will not be able to work while she heals (she makes most of her income by cleaning houses — the rest by working with dogs). And she is going to need help with a lot of things — because she won’t be able to drive or do anything for herself at home. As she lives in a rural area, she will need help with shopping for food and other items and picking up mail from the post office (her residence is so rural USPS does not deliver there). She will need to cover her ordinary expenses plus hire some home health care help. She will need help caring for her pets, too. So we are setting a goal to raise some funds for her — $7500.
asterkitty writes about her work at Daily Kos and 90for90.org here. Excerpted:
Nobody has done more at Daily Kos for downticket candidates than ZenTrainer. According to her page here at Daily Kos she has written nearly 100 diaries with the tag 90for90, with the aim of promoting Democrats in local races. She has done a ton of promoting and organizing for for90.org. Everything she has done for these candidates, and therefore, for all of us, she has done without pay. ZT does it because it’s the right thing to do, and although exhausted at times for health reasons, she is absolutely tireless when it comes to doing this very important work.
The Marti provides a personal perspective on zen trainer’s gracious nature here. Excerpted:
...She is fierce in her defense of those who have no one, and just as fierce in speaking Truth to Power. Plus, this woman has a wicked sense of humour that delights me even while it makes me think! And that’s just what’s visible.
Murfster35 shows deep compassion and empathy here. Excerpted:
Believe me, I know full how damn hard it is for ZT to do this. I felt the need for a little reality check, so I went back and reread the diary that I had to post not so long ago about my own problem, as well as the comments. Tears came to my eyes again at the kindness, love and generosity I was shown by this community. I got the same misting in my eyes at the comments in Sara R’s diary for ZT. And I have little doubt that I’ll tear up at the comments I get to this diary. From politics to PWB diaries, ZT is such an important part of our group, and I want to see her back in the saddle again ASAP.
From zen trainer:
“Well, my surgery just got approved. My knees went a little weak when I heard the news. I dread it in a way, but at least my insurance is going to cover it. My surgery is December 9th and my insurance gets cancelled December 31st.
“I have been sick a lot this year so I have no savings at all. For my last 2 surgeries the only restrictions I had were that I couldn’t lift anything or vacuum. I clean houses and train dogs for a living so I just had a friend drive me to work and he vacuumed. I did a lot of Vicodin and did all the cleaning. This time though, I can’t clean at all, not even wipe a counter for 6 to 8 weeks! Because something like a “seroma” could occur and at that time I will have no insurance coverage. What I will need is my mortgage and expenses covered for that time.
“You know, I am fiercely independent and hate asking people for anything... And boy do I feel like a loser for having to ask, but I’m stressed enough as it is, I don’t want to stress about losing my house. When I first got cancer, I missed 2 payments on my house and B of A jumped at the chance to foreclose. I was able to get a mortgage modification then. It lowered my payments to almost affordable by extending the loan to 40 years. I’ll be 94 when my house is paid off!
“Recovery sounds like a whole lot of NOT fun. I won’t be allowed to lift my hands over my head or bend over for a few weeks. I won’t be able to drive for that long either. And I can’t go to work for 8 weeks. I am going to have to have someone help me bathe for 4 days or so and for a few weeks, help with my pets... I have to sleep propped up for a few weeks also. ...they advise strongly to set up a table with water and a TV remote control; they really want you to lay around doing nothing for as long as possible in order to heal.”
Zen trainer can do this. She can get through her surgery and complete her cancer journey. We can help her.
Here is where you can send funds:
PayPal: send using the “family and friends” option to zenpaws AT msn DOT com
Check: make to Tracy B. Ann and send to P.O. Box 293372, Nashville, TN 37229
Please also send cards and any other recovery treats (gluten-free if edible) to the address above.
We have a goal of $7500.00
ZenTrainer only has the rest of this week before her income will be on pause for two months. Scary. Please help by reccing, tipping, republishing, sharing, and sending healing and soothing energy,
Funds are currently at $2178.00. Thank you so much!!!