Introduction

When you’re a single mother battling cancer, the weight of the world doesn’t just rest on your shoulders—it crushes you. Bills don’t stop. Rent is due. Children still need to eat, go to school, and feel safe. For Tamika R., a 38-year-old mother of two from Northern California, her cancer diagnosis was more than a health crisis—it was a financial, emotional, and spiritual breaking point. But her story didn’t end in despair. Thanks to the “Giving to Live” program from Fashion Your Mind Organization (FYMO), Tamika found the support she needed to fight back and win. This is her story.

Section 1: The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Tamika had always been a hardworking woman. Balancing two part-time jobs and raising her 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter alone wasn’t easy, but she made it work. When persistent fatigue and abdominal pain led to a devastating stage 2 ovarian cancer diagnosis, everything changed. Her world crumbled. She had no paid leave, no savings, and no one to step in.

“My first thought wasn’t even about me,” Tamika recalls. “It was about my babies. Who’s going to take care of them?”

Section 2: The Financial Toll of Fighting Cancer

The costs of cancer treatment are staggering. Even with basic insurance, Tamika faced out-of-pocket expenses for surgery, chemotherapy, prescriptions, and travel. She also had to stop working temporarily, losing the only income supporting her household. Within weeks, Tamika was behind on rent, facing utility shutoff notices, and struggling to put food on the table.

“I remember looking at my kids eating ramen noodles and thinking, this isn’t what they deserve,” she said. “I felt helpless.”

Section 3: Discovering FYMO’s “Giving to Live” Program

Tamika was referred to FYMO by a hospital social worker who had seen firsthand how FYMO steps in where insurance and government programs fall short. The “Giving to Live” program was designed for people like Tamika—cancer patients facing immediate financial distress.

She applied, and within 48 hours, a FYMO representative contacted her. “They didn’t just ask for documents. They asked how I was really doing,” Tamika said.

FYMO covered her past-due rent, arranged transportation to her medical appointments, and provided grocery assistance and utility support. But most importantly, FYMO gave Tamika something no bill assistance program ever had: hope.

Section 4: Emotional and Spiritual Support

FYMO’s mission goes beyond dollars and cents. As part of the “Giving to Live” initiative, Tamika was paired with a volunteer support mentor—a cancer survivor who had walked a similar path.

“She prayed with me, cried with me, celebrated my little victories,” Tamika shared. “She became my anchor.”

Through FYMO, Tamika also received wellness kits, access to support groups, and spiritual counseling when things felt darkest. She says this emotional support was just as vital as financial aid.

Section 5: Community Impact

Tamika’s story is one of dozens each month. FYMO’s Giving to Live program operates throughout Northern California, prioritizing marginalized, underinsured, and financially at-risk individuals. In 2024 alone, the program:

• Supported over 180 cancer patients and their families
• Prevented evictions for more than 70 individuals
• Provided 1,200+ rides to and from medical facilities
• Delivered more than 15,000 meals and grocery boxes

These are not just numbers. Each figure represents a life saved, a family preserved, and a community strengthened.

Section 6: Tamika’s Recovery and Giving Back

Today, Tamika is cancer-free. She’s returned to part-time work, her children are thriving, and she’s begun training to become a FYMO volunteer herself.

“FYMO saved us. There’s no other way to put it. I want to be that person for someone else now.”

She recently shared her story at a FYMO fundraising event, inspiring donors, volunteers, and partners to continue fueling the mission.

Section 7: How You Can Help

Tamika’s journey shows that your support matters. Here’s how you can join FYMO in changing lives:

• Donate: One-time or recurring gifts help pay for rent, food, utilities, and more for patients in crisis.
• Volunteer: From support calls to fundraising and community outreach, there’s a role for everyone.
• Partner: FYMO works with churches, schools, clinics, and businesses to expand their reach.
• Share: Use your voice to amplify stories like Tamika’s and spread FYMO’s mission.

Conclusion: From Crisis to Community

Tamika’s story is a shining example of how hope, support, and community can change a life. FYMO’s “Giving to Live” program isn’t just about money—it’s about showing people that even in their darkest hour, they are not alone.

Fashion Your Mind Organization is committed to being that light for countless others.

Because giving is living.