Single mom fights breast cancer, hopes for more ‘angels’

By LIZ BALMASEDA
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

ROYAL PALM BEACH — In the full and busy life of Yolanda McKenney, there was no room for the cancer. There were three children to raise, a full-time job to keep, a home to maintain, bills to pay, two dogs to care for.

And there was life, a life that included two grown daughters, grandchildren, church, a life gingerly sustained.

But that life was shattered when the 44-year-old single mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. McKenney faced a mastectomy, chemotherapy treatments, radiation therapy and later, reconstructive surgery.

With the exception of minimal time taken for the surgeries, McKenney kept working throughout all of it. She had to. She had no insurance.

“I had to work, even when I was too tired to drive or to walk to the car. There were days when I thought I just couldn’t make it, but I had to,” says the graceful woman, recounting her story in the orderly home she shares with her youngest children, Cameria, 15, Imani, 12, and Malik, 6.

She is a strong woman who prizes work ethic and independence. But when her limited Medicaid coverage ran out, she had no means to pay for critical treatments.

“I called every agency, everyplace I could find, asking for assistance,” she recalls. But she had no luck. Until, one day, a representative of the Connie J. Goodale Breast Cancer Foundation called. The foundation found out about her after McKenney filled out an application for assistance at the office of her Palm Beach Gardens oncologist, Dr. Elisabeth McKeen.

The foundation has been able to cover six months of treatments for McKenney, who continues to require Zoladex injections and $300 monthly sessions to flush the medication port. But it cannot afford to cover additional treatments.

“Even though we have not been able to grant her everything she truly needs, she’s always appreciative. Yolanda is such a pleasure to work with,” says Connie Foundation case manager Elizabeth Schlacher.

McKenney calls the foundation folks “my angels.” She credits them for helping to keep her healthy enough to work. But as the funds will run out soon, McKenney may not be able to receive the essential treatment.

All of her hard work, she says, has been for her children.

“What I want for them is that they grow up believing in themselves,” says McKenney, who works for a workers compensation claims auditing firm. “Nothing is impossible.”

YOLANDA’S WISH

Yolanda McKenney, a 44-year-old breast cancer patient and single mother raising three children in Royal Palm Beach, is facing the loss of funds to continue important cancer-related treatments. She has continued to work full-time, even through her weakest days. She needs assistance in covering much-needed oncology treatments that run $300 a month. She and her three youngest children, ages 15, 12 and 6, also could use supermarket or Wal-Mart gift cards to help with groceries and essentials.

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We all have life goals and I don’t know about you, but I’m not getting any younger. Several years ago I decided that I would like to someday run a marathon, just to say I accomplished it. I briefly started the 5 month rigorous training schedule and found it difficult to stay self motivated. It just wasn’t the right time.

Several months back my new girlfriend asked me if I would be interested in training for a ½ marathon. My immediate response was yes and we have been running ever since. We run 3 to 4 times a week. Anywhere from 12 miles to 26 miles weekly. Some days are better than others, but we keep each other motivated. We are well on our way to accomplishing one of our individual life goals together and it feels great.

Why Charity?

As many of you probably have thought of donating to charity or doing something in your community, I have always wanted to do something myself. But what, how, when and for what cause? There are so many, right? Then life gets in the way, we forget, another year goes by and we just didn’t get around to helping.

I have helped out at local food shelters cooking on the holidays before. I have gone to help some other friends with their charities before, but all too seldom.

To be completely honest I didn’t even think of charity when I started running for my marathon. I was doing it completely for selfish reasons. I wanted to achieve a life goal.

Why Connie Foundation?

So one morning my friend Ed came to pick me up and on the back of his car he has a pink ribbon and it says “Ask me about The Connie Foundation!” So I hop in the car and say “Tell me about Connie Foundation”. He looks to me and smiles and asks, “Are you messing with me?” I said “No, the ribbon on your car, tell me about it.” He lights up like a Christmas tree. He goes on to explain how Connie foundation helps those with cancer with their everyday necessities. He goes on to explain how he has donated his time along with his fiancé and how great it feels to give back. He asks me if I’d like to go on a fundraiser sometime and help out.

To that my immediate response was “well I am running in this marathon; why not make it for charity? Why not raise money for Connie Foundation?”

So here I am trying to do my part, but I can’t do it without a lot of support. So I’m asking all my friends, family, co-workers, facebookers, youtubers, and anyone else I can think of for your support.

Any amount will help. Don’t think because of the economy I’m asking for $100. I’m asking so many people even a $5 donation will help tremendously. If I could get that much from everyone I would far surpass my goal. So please everyone make a small contribution to this very worthy cause.

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

List of Donors:

Edmund Schlacher $100
Lisa Almodovar $100
Jason Perez $50
Thomas Perez $10
Debbie Moore $50
LeighAnne Corredor $50
Robert Maar $25
Ivan Ferrer $25
Paul Darmetko $100
Jose Arjona $5
Dan Jardine $120
Michael Douglas $50
Joseph Manuse $25
Bridie Menendez $25
Paul Metkomarine $100
Eddie Dalidowicz $100