Published Jan 9, 2022

39-Year-Old Waitress Battling Stage 4 Cancer While Caring for a Sick Child Receives Outpouring of Support From Community: ‘I Can’t Let Cancer Beat Me Because My Kids Need Me’

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Outpouring Support From Community

Elisa Campos, 39, juggles her time being a full-time waitress at a diner as well as taking care of her three kids, one of which suffers from numerous health conditions. She was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and spinal cancer in 2021.
After hearing about Campos’ diagnosis, numerous diner regulars and friends came together to raise awareness for Campos’ cancer battle and raise money to help her and her family.
Being a caretaker for a loved one while simultaneously battling cancer can be an overwhelming experience, and it’s important that you ask for help when you need it.

Elisa Campos, 39, has dedicated her entire life to taking care of others. The Pennsylvania diner waitress is currently caring for her three children, one of which suffers from epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and migraines. However, a shocking cancer diagnosis led her community to take the reins and give her some much-needed support.

When Campos isn’t working at Collegeville Diner as a full-time waitress, she’s taking care of her three children. Her daughter Leila suffers from numerous health issues such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and migraines so Campos spends a lot of time as a caretaker. However, in 2021 Campos learned that she herself is facing a health crisis. She was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and spinal cancer (also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma). News of Campos’ diagnosis spread throughout the community, and a number of diner regulars decided to come together and support Campos during this challenging time.

One regular and a friend of Campos’ in particular, Todd Sisca, decided to hold a fundraiser in order to help support her and her family financially. Sisca is a musician, and he held an hour-long piano concert in order to raise awareness of Campos’ situation to the community and encourage them to help. “I heard she needed a lot of help. I didn’t know it,” Sisca told 6 Action News. “And so, I set up an ongoing virtual recital benefit series to help Elisa and her family because that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re supposed to help each other.”

The recital paid off, as Campos’ GoFundMe has currently raised nearly $14,000 of its $40,000 goal so far. The mother of three says she’s been completely overwhelmed by the amount of support she’s received during her fight. “Everybody kept telling me, ‘Stay strong. Don’t let it get to you,'” Campos said. “And that’s what I’ve been trying to keep in my mind…I’m going to fight this. I can’t let cancer beat me because my kids need me.”

Paying for Cancer Treatment

Facing a cancer diagnosis is without a doubt an overwhelming experience, as not only do you have to worry about treatment being successful but also how you’re expected to pay for treatment. It’s rare that your health insurance will pay 100% of the cost of the treatment plan, and that leads people to become overwhelmed with financial anxiety. However, there are ways to come up with a plan to help you with the bills, and resources are available to ease your stress.

“The best way to look at this and find the resources that are available is to speak with the social worker associated with that practice, because that person usually knows what resources are available and what you can do to access them or apply for them and where you may or may not qualify to receive them,” Dr. Nina Shah, a hematologist who specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma at the Hematology and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic, previously told SurvivorNet. “Some of the patient advocacy groups will help with things like parking. There are also parts of clinical trials, which may pay, for example, travel or a hotel night so you can stay close to the institution. There’s also parts of drug companies that will allow you to get certain drugs on a patient assistance program. It’s important for you to know at each point that you are your own best advocate.”

Navigating the cost of cancer treatment can certainly be a stressful experience, but experts say that coming up with a financial plan can make a difference when you’re saddled with bills. It’s also so important to always keep an open line of communication with your insurance providers and doctors.

Dr. Nina Shah explains how to get help with cancer bills

Caretakers Need Support Too

Being a caretaker for a loved one while simultaneously battling cancer can be an overwhelming experience to say the least, and it’s important that you ask for help when you need it. One thing to remember is that it's important that they take care of themselves too, as it can take a serious toll on someone's mental and physical health. In order to fully take care of someone, you need to feel your best.

Feeling fatigued or stressed at times can lead to bigger issues that could impact you, and that's why it's so important to not only prioritize your mental health, but also your physical health as well. That's why, if you start to feel the physical toll of being a caregiver or cancer patient, it's so important to take some time to relax or even visit the doctor if things progress.

Furthermore, it can be extremely helpful to do things which help you feel good and increase your self-confidence. This can be getting a new haircut, putting on your favorite outfit, or even spending some time in a salon to get dolled up. Feeling good on the outside can tremendously help feeling good on the inside, and this lends itself as a helpful tool in being there for someone battling cancer.

After actor Patrick Dempsey lost his mother to ovarian cancer, he started The Dempsey Center, an organization which helps cancer caregivers

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