The biggest challenge Jessica Salcido faced when going through cancer treatments was being separated from her young children. She would be at the hospital for four days at a time, regularly thinking about how this affects the kids.
The CSCNT Living with Cancer support group helped her work through these and other feelings, while her children received support from our Noogie kids programs.
Jessica, who is on the CSCNT Board, recognizes the positive ripple effect CSCNT services had in all areas of her life, including in her relationships with her children and husband, at work and with her primary caregiver, her mother. In Jessica’s support group, she remembers one person who received support for how cancer created struggles in their marriage.
“The CSCNT support groups help you understand not only about cancer treatments, but also how it impacts the person,” Jessica says.
Along with attending support groups, Jessica and her mother were regulars at tai chi, meditation, arts and crafts workshops and more at the clubhouse.
With so many other things to deal with when you have cancer, including the financial burden of care, Jessica says CSCNT offering our services at no cost is one less thing to worry about and removes barriers for many people. Jessica doesn’t think her mother would have joined her in CSCNT activities if there were costs involved. Generous donors like Jessica allow us to offer our services at no cost. “Cancer can happen to anyone at any time, so that’s why giving financially to CSCNT so they can continue providing support to those who need it is so important.”
Previously participating on other nonprofit boards, Jessica, the Vice President of Finance at Tyler Technologies, knew the CSCNT Board was a good fit because she understands personally how critical our services are to the community. She sees the CSCNT Board’s role as keeping the organization sustainable and working to reach more cancer survivors and their families, whether virtually or in person, in the most efficient way possible. Jessica brings experience fundraising at another nonprofit to the CSCNT Fundraising Committee.
Jessica is thankful every day to be living six years with no evidence of cancer after treatment for stage 3 soft tissue sarcoma.