Welcome to Veterans Today Cancer Foundation! The newest addition to the Veterans Today Network family.
We created this foundation to help Veterans and their dependents get through the trying time of dealing with a current cancer diagnosis, by lending support services where they are needed. The road is long, tough and exhausting. We want to be able to help alleviate any burdens that might come up. The journey to wellness needs to be focused and positive. I know this because I’ve been there.
My name is Jacquie Salinas, the Executive Director for this foundation and I survived a life-threatening bone cancer 28 years ago. I was diagnosed in April of 1988, after a lot of biopsies because no one was familiar with the cancer I had. Finally, my last biopsy was sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital. They figured out what it was, osteoepitheleoid sarcoma. It was so rare and aggressive that it was moving up my leg at an accelerated rate. We were sent to California immediately.
In May of 1988, the Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cedars Sinai told me they were going to have to take my entire right leg, a total right hip disarticulation. My family and I were stunned, to say the least. It was either my leg or my life!! I knew what had to be done. Two weeks later my Orthopedic surgeon, at UCLA Medical Center, performed the surgery. After some time in the hospital, I was released to go back home and do six months of chemotherapy.
A solid week, in-patient, at the hospital for this. I am better than ever now but I do not have a prosthetic leg. I guess I was left here to BE seen, so that I can talk with others about it.
My point to this story is that I want to give back. I need to give back. During that devastating time in my life, I had to rely on strangers. And they helped at every turn. The hotel, the air and ground transportation, housing when I came home and bills that couldn’t be paid because my mother had to take an unpaid leave of absence from her job to be with me. All of it was paid for….but I couldn’t tell you by who, because I don’t know who they all are. These are the kinds of things that we at Veterans Today Cancer Foundation want to help you with, should you need us.
Our Board of Directors is made up of Veterans, with the exception of myself, who are ready, willing and able to help where it is needed. They are extraordinary gentlemen. We are lucky to be in the incredible family of Veterans Today Network, which is always there for our Veterans.
Should you find that you need our help, please email me at the address below. Together, we will help to make sure you have a positive journey throughout your fight!
Sincerely,
Jacquie Salinas
Executive Director
Veterans Today Cancer Foundation
Email: js_vtcancerfoundation@yahoo.com