Please Note: This is a true story from a recipient of Project Purple’s Patient Financial Aid Program. This individual felt it was important to share their story, but wishes to remain anonymous. Names and some minor details have been changed to conceal their identity. While the name may be changed, what remains is a true story of hope, positivity, and the real-world impact of our financial aid program.
Facing pancreatic cancer is a journey that tests every part of a person’s life—physically, emotionally, and financially. For Ms. Blessings, the past three and a half years have been filled with uncertainty. Each day brought the challenges of treatment and the weight of the unknown.
Through it all, she found strength in three pillars: her unwavering faith, the love and support of her family, and the guidance offered by Project Purple’s Patient Financial Aid Program. These supports guided her through the challenges, helping her find hope and strength when she needed it most.
This article references Project Purple’s Patient Financial Aid Program. If you are a patient interested in receiving financial aid, please click here to learn more. If you would like to donate in support of this program, you can do so here.
The Start of a New Battle
Ms. Blessings first noticed something was amiss when she began losing weight unexpectedly. “I didn’t really have any symptoms except for losing weight. That was it,” she recalls. Although the change seemed minor at first, her mother’s lessons about always seeking medical attention when feeling like something was off gave her the push to see a doctor. “I’m so glad she embedded that in me,” Ms. Blessings reflects.
Early imaging tests initially showed no cause for concern, leaving her in a state of anxious uncertainty. It wasn’t until further testing that a mass was finally detected, confirming her fears: she had pancreatic cancer. Coming home from the appointment, she remembers crying for hours, processing the reality of her diagnosis.
She tried to distract herself with small tasks, but the weight of the news was inescapable, a constant reminder that life had irrevocably shifted. Questions raced through her mind: What would treatment be like? How would her family cope? Could she endure the long months ahead?
Through these swirling fears and questions, it was her faith that grounded her and kept her steady. “I kept thinking about what my mom was saying. Like, you know, you gotta pray about it, regardless of what you know, just gotta pray about it. So that’s what I did,” she recalls.
Prayer became a daily practice, a way to process her emotions and find solace, yet she still wrestled with doubts about the treatment plan ahead. When she asked her doctor what might happen if she didn’t undergo chemotherapy, the answer was clear and eye-opening: it could significantly reduce her chances of recovery.
When thinking of her family, including her children, grandchildren, and especially her new great-granddaughter, Ms. Blessings realized she had no choice but to move forward. After a moment of reflection, she found herself asking, “When can I start?” Her love for her family and desire to be there for them became the driving force behind her determination to face treatment head-on.
With faith, family, and newfound resolve, Ms. Blessings took her first steps into the long and challenging journey of treatment, ready to meet whatever lay ahead.
Facing Treatment: Courage and Community
After making the decision to move forward with treatment, Ms. Blessings shared the news with her family, who rallied around her immediately. Together, they created a support system rooted in love, reassurance, and teamwork. “It’s going to be okay,” she told herself repeatedly, even as fear lingered.
Her anxiety was fueled by the research she had done on pancreatic cancer and by memories of a friend’s husband who had passed from the disease. Yet, despite the fear, she resolved to stay strong. “But I held onto my faith and I started the process,” she recalls.
Those early days of treatment were overwhelming. “It was just a lot,” she says, reflecting on the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy. During this period, her faith remained a constant anchor. She stayed connected to her church community, drawing comfort from prayer and familiar rituals.
A nurse stayed by her side, offering gentle encouragement during one of the most overwhelming moments. She reminded Ms. Blessings that even after the tears, strength could follow. “We’re gonna get stronger,” she repeated constantly, letting the words sink in and take hold.
Despite the challenges, the journey was full of remarkable achievements. Completing chemotherapy marked a significant milestone, and she transitioned into radiation treatment with renewed determination. Throughout it all, she maintained her routines as best she could—never stopping eating, even if only in small tablespoons, and finding moments of normalcy amid the chaos.
The ceremonial ringing of the bells, marking the end of her treatment, symbolized her progress and amazed friends and family, who often called her a ‘walking miracle.’ Soon, she connected with Project Purple’s Patient Financial Aid Program, a resource that became a vital part of her journey, providing not only financial assistance but also the reassurance that she was not facing this battle alone.
Finding Strength With Project Purple’s Help
“We all go through something in life,” Ms. Blessings reflects, acknowledging the universal challenges of illness. From the very beginning of her journey, she was connected with Project Purple, calling the organization and being carefully guided through the Patient Financial Aid process.
Project Purple’s Patient Financial Aid (PFA) Program provides financial support to individuals undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, as well as to the families who care for and support them. The program helps cover medical expenses and everyday costs, allowing patients and their loved ones to focus on what matters most: health and healing.
Ms. Blessings knows how crucial this support can be. Reflecting on her time as a nursing assistant, she remembers how quickly people can lose hope without help. “A lot of people don’t realize there is support out there,” she says. “Just easing some of the stress—help with bills or someone to talk to—can make all the difference.”
“It was a big help to me,” she says, particularly as she balanced work with the increasing demands of treatment. She continued working up until the day she had to start chemotherapy, and the support from Project Purple eased the transition into this challenging chapter.
The care and compassion from Project Purple could be felt even in the smallest comforts. Wrapped in her Blanket of Hope, Ms. Blessings reflects, “I love it. It’s purple. It’s so pretty, so comfortable. And it’s all about comfort. When I put it on, I think about Dino’s dad, and it’s a comfort.”
The organization’s impact extended beyond financial and material guidance. Project Purple also provided Ms. Blessings with emotional reassurance, showing how practical assistance can lift a heavy emotional burden. As she explains, “I just love that anyone who wants to feel secure in their home can call and talk to someone. They will also help you with your bills. So they’ll take a little weight off of you so you can think and do what you have to do to get well. Because, look at me, you will get well. All you have to do is believe.”
Curious about the people behind the organization, she discovered that Dino Verrelli serves as its CEO & Founder. Learning that Dino’s father had faced pancreatic cancer moved her deeply and helped her see that the empathy guiding Project Purple came from personal experience. “You don’t have to know a person to feel what they went through,” she explains, reflecting on the connection she felt to strangers who truly understood her struggle.
That same empathy was evident in the organization’s staff, who offered not only guidance but genuine concern. When she called Project Purple, they didn’t just walk her through the financial aid process. They asked how she was doing, taking the time to check in on her well-being and provide emotional support alongside practical assistance.
“It just lets you know that someone, somewhere out there, is still with you, and knows what you’re going through,” she says, reflecting on the comfort of being seen and understood during her journey.
Continuing the Journey: Faith, Reflection, and Advice
Even after completing chemotherapy and radiation, Ms. Blessings acknowledges that the journey is ongoing. “If you haven’t ever been in my shoes, you can’t speak on it,” she says, reflecting on the deeply personal challenges of living with pancreatic cancer.
Having finished her major treatments has also meant reclaiming her routines and joys. She has returned to church, stopped smoking, and no longer drinks. “You have to be positive and motivated to help yourself,” she says.
She continues to cook, maintain her weight, and embrace life fully: “I love life, the trees, the wind, the grass, the color. It’s important because you’re breathing, you’re still living.”
As her 66th birthday approaches, she is planning to celebrate—not with a big event, but by appreciating the simple gift of another day. “I am so proud of myself. I’m gonna get there, and I’m just so proud,” she says.
Ms. Blessings’ advice to other pancreatic cancer patients is heartfelt and unwavering: “Do not, I repeat, do not give up. If you want someone to hear you out and talk, call Project Purple. When I tell you they’re going to be there for you, you do not have to go through anything else. Just call Project Purple. I promise you, that’s where you started, and that’s where you’ll finish it. Take it from me.”
We are so grateful to have patients like Ms. Blessings as part of our Project Purple community; she is truly the reason we fight for a world without pancreatic cancer. If you or a loved one is facing this disease, please visit our Patient Financial Aid webpage to learn more and find out how to apply for support.
