Testimonials From Individuals Helped by CMBC:

Emily, 2018. 

Emily was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in the fall of 2017. This cancer, specifically known as neuroendocrine cervical cancer, is diagnosed in less than 200 people per year. Emily had a longtime friend that had connections within the CMBC organization who had reached out to us to pass on her story. Hearing her story CMBC was able to get involved and lessen the burdens Emily would take on throughout this draining journey. Specifically, CMBC was able to provide her with financial assistance with her surgeries and chemotherapy.

Her Story: “While CMBC seemingly only provided me with a check, to me it was so much more. I was in a situation where I had just cleaned out my savings to go back to school to become a nurse. I had graduated earlier that year and was just getting my feet wet in my new career. I had almost nothing to my name, but loved my job working in one of the busiest ERs in Atlanta. When my cancer diagnosis hit, I was distraught with worry about how I was going to pay for the treatment I needed. My family found one of the word leading doctors in my type of cancer, but he was located at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, which to me just meant more money in travel costs that I didn’t have. I was worried about to financial burden this process would put on my parents, as they were prepping to retire. I had to stop working because of the physical nature of my job and the recoup required after surgery, plus the crippling fatigue I experienced while undergoing chemo. I was worried about whether or not I was going to live, but at the same time I was worried that if I DID live, how I would ever afford to pay my rent, buy food, and pay off the every growing medical bills that were stacking up on my counter. Enter CMBC. They provided me not only with a check, but the peace of mind that I would be able to pay my rent while I was unable to work. With my living arrangement taken care of, I was able to route what little money I did have to food, bills, and to start slowly chipping away at my medical expenses. I was able to afford traveling to seek care with the physician that I am convinced saved my life, as the doctors I saw locally had either never seen this cancer before or wanted to be drastically less aggressive with treatments. With the help of CMBC, I was able to gain back some control of my life in a time when I felt I had none. And for that I will ALWAYS be grateful to CMBC and the check they sent me that was so much more than just a piece of paper with some numbers on it.” -Emily