Roberta Lombardi

I was diagnosed in early September 2016 after finding a lump during a self-exam. When I emerged from fourteen months of treatment, I did not know who I was. I felt physically broken and mentally and emotionally shattered. Despite all of that, I consider myself fortunate that I was able to afford all treatments, even those not covered by insurance, without risking my family's financial security. Even more important, I had a husband who supported me emotionally, and our children never had to question whether there would be food on the table or heat during the cold winter. And of course, I was extremely grateful that I had found my breast cancer early, and at this point still have no evidence of disease.

I knew my story was not typical of most patients. The thin drape that separated me from other women in the infusion room every week did little to mute the voices of those questioning whether they could continue treatment because they were on their own and had bills to pay. They were struggling to remain working through treatment for fear of being evicted and being thrown out on the street with their children. And then there were the single moms that received a Metastatic Breast Cancer diagnosis, and they did not know if they should continue treatment that could prolong their life, or end treatment to spare their families further financial devastation. Nobody should have to make these choices.

Infinite Strength has become dedicated to providing financial assistance to underserved/underinsured single mothers with Metastatic Breast Cancer (StageIV). And I personally, am committed to being an early stage ally to the MBC Community. We offer the families we support not just financial assistance, but emotional assistance as well. And most important, we offer mother and child  hope that they are not on this journey alone, as they try to navigate all that this terminal diagnosis implies.

Together, we can help women with this disease find the courage to keep going even when they feel like giving up. And we can give their children comfort by knowing their mom is not on this journey alone. Will you help? Will you share your strength?