Cancer Doesn ’ t Define My Story
Arlington resident , 72-year-old Donna , receives weekly frozen meal deliveries from Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County thanks to CDBG grant funding from the City of Arlington . Due to cancer treatments , Donna receives weekly deliveries of frozen meals . This meal option is offered as an alternative to the daily hot meal delivery provided to most Meals On Wheels clients , and is designed to offer flexibility for those with regularly scheduled dialysis and other medical treatments that prevent them from being at home around noontime for a hot meal delivery .
After being diagnosed with brain cancer five years ago , Donna received radiation treatment for 11 masses in her brain . After she completed the treatment , Donna thought she was on the road to recovery . Unfortunately , her cancer returned with a vengeance . She now has end-stage lung cancer that has spread throughout her body , especially to her kidneys . She also suffers from diabetes and neuropathy in her legs and feet , which make it extremely difficult for her to walk . Donna reports that she has fallen four times in the last two weeks , and has broken her back two different times with previous falls . All of this has left Donna extremely weak and unable to cook for herself , so she is thankful to the City of Arlington for providing funding for her meals .
In addition to her health challenges , Donna struggles to pay for her basic needs . She pays $ 990 for rent on her small apartment and her electric bill is usually around $ 200 . Just those two expenses eat up her entire Social Security check of $ 1,200 per month . She receives Medicaid benefits , which help provide medical treatment , but she is unable to pay the co-payments for her doctor visits . Donna worries that her doctors will stop treating her since she is unable to pay the co-payments . Sadly , there ’ s nothing left for toiletries , food , and other necessities .
Despite these challenges and the realization that she doesn ’ t have long to live , Donna has an amazingly positive attitude and a great sense of humor that is immediately apparent to anyone who takes the time to talk to her . She attributes her positive attitude as the reason she has been able to get through so many difficulties over the past five years . She is determined not to let cancer define her story . Donna said that she doesn ’ t know what she would do without the healthy meals she receives from Meals On Wheels . She added that she doesn ’ t have to worry about how she will eat . Just knowing that she will receive healthy meals allows her to focus her attention on her health and well-being . Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County is grateful for the generous support provided through CDBG grant funding by the City of Arlington . This support allows us to serve homebound , elderly and disabled clients , just like Donna .