-UPDATE 5-21-26

My on-oncology doctor told me I have about 14 months left in her estimation but I choose not to believe this. I want to live and see my kids grow up, but I also have to be able to get out of this situation of soon to be homelessness and get to living where there’s positive and meaningful help for my kids and myself.

I’ve been struggling to get my chemo as I keep ending up in the hospital. I just got out again yesterday, I was sent after my bloodwork was sketchy when I got my labs done at the place I get my treatment from. While in the hospital I had 2 all out seizures and was sent up to Rush hospital in Chicago to figure out why-which we actually never did. I’m on an anti seizure medication now and haven’t had another, so I was discharged after having a nephrostomy done as my kidneys aren’t functioning properly either.

I’m probably not getting this all in proper order but I’m doing my best. As it sits now, my ex husband (who takes care of me and I couldn’t do this without his kindness and help),3 of my kids and myself have to get to Georgia because we’re very soon going to be without a place to stay at all. I can’t even go to the homeless shelter for help because I’m immunocompromised and they won’t allow it. I’ve never needed help from or the kindness of mostly internet strangers in my life, but I really need help. We’re holding on to the small amount of money we have left for emergencies and essential items because having cancer is expensive. There’s so many things one would never think of that are needed until you’re in the situation.

We’ve been planning to move to my brother’s for awhile now because he’s graciously offered to help with my care and the care of our children, but there are a lot of loose ends and things that must be done before we can make the 11 hour trip down there. We’ve been hit with a serious loss of income because I’m almost always unwell lately, and I don’t have the ability to take care of my own self and much less my kiddos. We have some work lined up in Georgia for Matt because we’ll have more help, and I say this because it’s not that we don’t want to provide for our own kids and ourselves as we always have up until now. We are in a position where we simply can’t. We have to ask for help from anyone who can find it in their hearts to help us.

———————————————————

My name is Megan Robison, and I’m a mom of four children facing a newly staged 4 cancer diagnosis.

Despite all efforts, my latest PET scan showed that the cancer has progressed to my liver, stomach lining, a couple more lymph nodes, and one of my ribs. On NYE ‘25 I began 2 immunotherapies, 2 chemotherapies, and a bone treatment to slow the progression of cancer in my ribs, and this is all being done in Coal City at the time, we’re driving from Lasalle to do this. I had the port I need put in this past Tuesday. I have an outstanding radiologist out of Morris who works with a team in Chicago, and the oncologists I’m now seeing are the best I’ve dealt with anywhere. They’re amazing to me and I’m so appreciative to have that. Since May, my life feels like it’s been flipped upside down and inside out. My treatment was delayed for months due to intense hemorrhaging, and I was hospitalized three times and required at least 6 transfusions before July, when I started 5 weeks of external radiation with 3 weeks of chemo in Morris and Peru, respectively. In early September I underwent a newer treatment called brachytherapy, which gives mega powered radiation from an internal device sewed into the body and administered over a 5 day period of time at Rush Memorial Hospital. It was intense, exhausting, and draining. I’ve managed to work my weight back up to 111lbs as of today, although I had previously gotten myself up to 117 after reaching a low of 103lbs last summer.

The financial strain is overwhelming honestly. I consistently need so many things at home that add up very quickly, the cost of gas for the countless appointments is crazy even with the prices being better, ensuring that we have groceries for the kids while also trying to afford foods I can keep down and digest without excruciating pain, it’s a growing pile of bills and other expenses that really does feel insurmountable. My van has had over 20,000 miles put on it since this all started last year, and now it needs some serious maintenance that I don’t have the resources to get done. That one is really hard because I have to have transportation for my health to be cared for. We are moving to Georgia to be with my brother Sam, who has committed to helping us and being another stable adult support for them. They desperately need this. We plan to enroll the kids in school in his small community, as I no longer have the strength to homeschool them like I’ve done for the past several years. I also have no idea how we’re going to get everything we will need to get them started.

I have plans to let the kids color my hair however they want, and probably cut it as well. I’ll just wear it that way as long as it stays. I hope it will help them feel a sense of control and make the changes a little easier and more lighthearted for them. I’ve already had everything I need to do it so I’m thinking of making a video or picture montage if anyone is interested in seeing how that goes. I feel like it’s going to be a blast. 

I’m reaching out for help here because we don’t want to feel alone in this fight, but I also would never publicly ask for help lightly or if the need wasn’t so great on our end. We refuse to adopt a gloom and doom mindset, and I’m absolutely determined to make as many good memories with my children as possible right now. The constant stress of making ends meet is very heavy, and I try to bring it to God and try to live as if every provision is already in front of me. He’s proven on a day to day basis that our needs will be met.

I was told there’s reason to hope I will live, whereas not too long ago that hope wasn’t really there for my type of cancer, and I’m SO grateful for that. My faith in Jesus Christ tells me that I have every single reason to hope for and expect a miracle even, to be made completely whole and well again. I can’t guarantee that is His plan, because I don’t know, and I accept whatever the will of God may be. I DO know exactly where I’m going home to whenever that day arrives. 

We’re in great need of financial assistance, but I humbly ask for your prayers every bit as much. Everyone who has prayed for us has done more than money ever could, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Prayers are the greatest gift. If any of you could possibly give a financial gift of any amount it also would be a tremendous blessing. Any support—a donation, your prayers, and/or sharing this would mean the world to the kids, Matt, and myself. I just want to make the most of my time with them, however long that ends up being. My heart and my concerns are for my children and the people in my life who love me, and they are understandably devastated. My ex-husband Matt has been by my side every single day caring for the kids and me. I truly believe and know I wouldn’t be here to write this without his direct intervention and advocating for me in the hospital and out of it, remembering and bringing me to all of my appointments and then assuming responsibility for everything I used to take care of at home that I now can only do sometimes and some days. 

Thank you in advance for standing with us. Whether you’re an actual family member, a friend in real life, a friend I’ve made online, or someone I don’t even know. Thank you for caring enough to read this in its entirety. 💗-Megan