In 2023, when Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 48, her first thought wasn’t about herself. It was about her daughter, Amoriah.
“I didn’t want to leave her,” Angela says. “I didn’t want her to grow up without me.”
A wife, mother, and school social worker, Angela was accustomed to caring for others. Now, as she began navigating her own care — scheduling appointments, undergoing treatment, and continuing to work — she found herself overwhelmed.
Then, during one of her many doctor’s appointments, a nurse told Angela about Gateway to Hope. When she reached out, she connected with Faith, a Patient Navigator.
Angela immediately felt seen and understood.
“I was crying, and she just listened,” Angela says. “She didn’t just treat me like a patient. She treated me like a person. That really helped.”
Gateway to Hope’s financial assistance provided additional relief. Angela had a limited number of sick days available at work. With help covering some of her financial burdens, she could focus less on keeping her household afloat and more on taking care of herself.
And in addition to Faith’s support, Angela found another source of inspiration: Amoriah.
As Angela navigated treatment, she watched her daughter find her voice. Amoriah wrote a story about coping with her emotions during her mother’s cancer journey. Now, mother and daughter are planning a joint book release — Amoriah for her children’s book, and Angela for her memoir.
Looking back, Angela admits that asking for help wasn’t always easy.
“I probably could have reached out sooner,” she says. “I was a little prideful.”
Now, she has a message for other women facing breast cancer:
“Don’t wait. It’s okay to let people in. This is your time to let people be there for you.”
We believe no one should have to make the impossible choice between essential living expenses and healthcare that could save their life. By getting involved with Campaign for Hope, you’re supporting financial assistance programs for Gateway to Hope patients like Angela. Learn more at gthmo.org/CampaignForHope.
