No one plans for life to throw them a major curveball. This is one woman’s story about championing her health and prioritizing her budget while healing from a breast cancer diagnosis. Today we talked specifically about resources and community!
We talk a lot about saving money and eating healthy around here. What happens when life throws you a major curve-ball?
This looks different for all of us. Maybe it’s a foreclosure, a job loss, or bankruptcy. Maybe it’s something even more serious: a medical complication, a car accident, or a diagnosis.
A few years ago, my dear childhood friend, Jessie Fabling, received a surprising and heartbreaking diagnosis. At 30 years old, Jessie was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She decided to tackle her diagnosis from all angles, working with a variety of doctors and professionals to fight the cancer and support her overall health in the process. Jessie eats an all-organic diet and juices regularly.
She’s also a waitress and nanny, living on a budget.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Jessie agreed to do a three-part interview just for the Cheapskate Cook audience! She’s a regular follower and a member of the Cheapskate Cooks Facebook Group.
One Breast Cancer Story:
After our first talk about breast cancer in the context of saving money and eating healthy, Jessie and I discovered three major themes in her healing journey:
- Food & Nutrition (watch that interview here!)
- Rest & Stress (here!)
- Community & Finances
(We are not trained medical professionals (see the disclaimer). This is just one amazing woman sharing her story in the context of three big areas: food, rest, and budgeting.)
Living with Breast Cancer
No two lives are the same, and so what worked for Jessie may not work for you. By sharing Jessie’s story, we hope to inspire and encourage you with some out-of-the-box ideas.
Maybe Jessie’s thoughts on food prompt you to look at what you’re eating. Maybe you never thought of rest and stress management as part of healing. And maybe listening to this interview will show you where people are already waiting to help.
These interviews won’t solve all your problems. But I pray they empower and equip you for the next part of your journey.
Community & Finances
How do you afford something this weighty? Jessie eats an all-organic, plant-based diet, and she advocates counseling and therapy. She’s also a waitress and nanny, living on a budget. Every choice comes with a cost.
In this interview, Jessie shares the companies and ministries that supported her financially. She talks about the importance of community and what that looks like for her.
(Note: Jessie talks about her faith a bit in here, so please respect her perspective even if it’s different from yours!)
Cheat Sheet
- 1:40 – Ministries and companies that helped Jessie financially
- 8:20 – Doing something scary
- 11:49 – Jessie’s current health status
- 13:30 – Ground zero
- 14:27 – People don’t know unless you ask
- 16:54 – Jessie’s message to someone with a diagnosis who needs help financially and with community
- 20:39 – How you can help a loved one with a diagnosis (it might not be the way you think!)
- 21:21 – Circle of support (and trauma)
- 24:58 – Reverse engagement announcement
- 26:41 – Specific examples of how community has helped Jessie
- 28:34 – Boundaries
- 29:08 – Apart from a diagnosis, this is life
Resources Mentioned:
- Hope4Cancer
- Samaritan Ministries
- Medicaid
- Every Woman’s Life
- GoFundMe
Where to Find Jessie:
If you want to follow Jessie’s journey, she posts regularly on her Facebook Page, Taste & See: Jessie Nutrition Therapy and Instagram account, @jrfabling_healingjourney.
If you would like to support her, visit her Go Fund Me page here!
What You Can Do:
How has your community helped you in rough times?
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