February 4, 2020
Maria is a survivor. At the age of 78, she’s battled cancer, off and on, for nearly three-quarters of her life.
Her fight against the disease began in the 1960’s when she was 25 and a new mother. At the time, doctors removed four tumors from her right breast. Fast forward to 1990 when surgeons found more than two dozen tumors under her left arm. Then, earlier this year, her doctor discovered a malignant growth in her right breast. Maria immediately started chemotherapy and although she has completed that process, she must still receive infusions every three weeks.
Maria also deals with other health issues such as Lupus, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. Her 74-year-old husband, Jesse, struggles with medical issues of his own, including heart failure and a stroke. After her most recent diagnosis, Maria knew she and her spouse needed assistance with the activities of everyday life. When she reached out to the Breast Cancer Resource Center, they suggested Meals on Wheels Central Texas In-Home Care.
These days, their MOWCTX personal care attendant helps them with bathing, dressing, skin care, laundry, shopping, meal prep and getting to and from doctors’ appointments. Maria says she doesn’t know what she would have done without assistance from Meals on Wheels Central Texas In-Home Care.
This story was featured in the 2019 In-Home Care Impact Report.