Would you please join me in financially supporting Rachel as she fiercely battles cancer? Please pray and give if you are able. Sharing this link also helps! The link will be open if you choose to give again/regularly.
Special Note: If you leave comments on social media, Rachel may not be able to respond. If you need to contact her, please reach out to Erik. Thank you for understanding!
Thank you for your generosity in blessing Rachel and her family.
~Mindy~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A personal note from our dear Rachel:
Dear friends,
Well, here we go… this year has been quite an intense hardship for our family. We have been pretty quiet on social media, as we have been focusing all of our attention on healing.
As of January 2025, I (Rachel) was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of breast cancer with lymphatic evasion. I grieve to tell you that it has not gotten better.
If you know me, then you know how much I love health, fitness, and nutrition. This news came as a shock to our family. Interesting how we tend to think it will never happen to us! Right?!
But here I am, 10 months into my cancer story. I have been working diligently with both the traditional and integrative/functional medical experts on battling my cancer. I have been through surgeries, 100’s of needle pokes for alternative/naturopathic IV treatments twice weekly to build up my immune system over the past year. I have been taking several repurposed drugs that integrative oncology uses instead of chemotherapy. I have been on an extremely restricted keto diet and practiced fasting to starve the cancer and keep it from getting fuel to grow. I am taking a million supplements, herbs, teas, and whatever else you have seen posted on social media as naturopathic/ holistic cancer treatments. It has been wonderful to be a part of the natural cancer world. I have met so many incredible people along the way! It has kept me strong and healthy through this journey. I actually feel pretty good!
Yet, my cancer is stubborn and has not been as responsive as we had hoped. I have not wanted to do chemotherapy as my treatment plan. I have resisted as long as I could. I honestly have saved it as my last resort. My team of doctors feels this cancer needs to be handled more aggressively and quickly. Chemotherapy was my plan Z. I tried plans A,B,C, etc…. It was the last thing I wanted to accept. But here I am. This is my reality. Gulp.
However, after surgery and all the holistic treatments and healthy dieting, my body and immune system are stronger and healthier than before! I truly believe building up my immunity was what I needed to endure and tolerate this next chapter of my story.
I will be starting chemotherapy in a few days. My port surgery was done last week, and I will meet with my oncologist to review all my scans. I will also include integrative medicine and supplemental nutritional IVs to keep up my immune system and to hopefully have fewer side effects.
At this time, our family is doing the best we can to function well. I still work as a preschool teacher to amazing 5-year-olds! However, I may need to take a lot of time off if chemo makes me sick. My hubby still runs his own specialty and custom mechanic business. He carries a very heavy load, helping me with all household responsibilities, my surgeries, leading Bible study, and driving/attending kids’ activities!
The kids are in school, working, playing sports, going to youth group, and are active in our community! Even though this is a time of high anxiety, they are handling it pretty well. By the grace of God, we are managing the stress with the strength of God every day! We have a wonderful support system here in Tennessee to help us practically with all of our extra needs! We have a precious family support system in California that loves us deeply from afar!
Many people are praying for us, writing me cards and encouragement notes, taking my kids out, making us meals, sending us gifts, and calling or texting us to check in on our needs. It has been so awesome to see people come together to support us. I am so grateful.
Many have asked what our greatest needs are and how they can help. At this time, our greatest needs are financial. Cancer is crazy! It invades every space in our lives. It is so expensive. Every test. Every lab order. Every IV treatment. Every supplement. Every doctor appointment. Every gas tank is filled up for medical purposes. Every scan. Every grocery bill for a special cancer diet. Every single thing costs money and adds up quickly.
My sweet friend was so kind to offer to set up a fundraiser to help out our family financially. We are grateful and humbled. I didn’t want to do it because I’m a private person and didn’t want to post my story on social media. But I am learning to accept the help of others and invite others along with me in this journey.
I believe in the God of miracles. I know God is holding my family up through this time. I trust His ways. I know that our God is helping me. I am on my knees daily asking for healing. I am learning to be thankful for all things. The simplest of things bring me joy that I overlooked before my diagnosis. The warm sunshine on my face. A hot, cozy sip of tea. A five-year-old boy told me,” I prayed for you, Mrs. Rachel. I pray the needle doesn’t hurt you.” The preschool coloring pages that my class makes for me. The broccoli sprouts my husband grows in a mason jar on our kitchen counter for me to eat (because they help fight cancer). The worship songs friends send me to listen to. The soft blankets that held me during surgery recoveries. The list goes on… It’s the small things that are pushing me forward!
I love you all and thank you for your prayers at this time.
Love,
Rachel
This is my cancer-fighting
theme song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYtUec8mzak
