Mother of one fighting rare cancer

For more than three months, Lisa Morris has been fighting a rare and aggressive disease that has not only altered her appearance, but affected her entire life.

Last December, the 27-year-old mother of one was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an uncommon but fast-spreading form of skin cancer. Typically, MCC appears as a rapidly growing lump on sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, and arms, with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. In Morris' case, the cancer is concentrated on her face, leaving her with significant physical and emotional scars.

Morris' battle began in June when she noticed what seemed like a small pimple above one of her incisors. Concerned, she visited a dentist, who referred her to a specialist. A biopsy in August confirmed the devastating diagnosis. Since then, the right side of her face has become severely swollen and deformed, changing her life in ways she never imagined.

"I had to do plastic surgery to replace the right side of my face that was removed because of the swelling. It went up into my nose, almost into my eye, but thank God it did not affect my eyes. My nose, top teeth, and upper lip were [also] removed, and they had to take a muscle from my right side to place on my face," she explained.

"This has been very life-changing for me to be honest, as I have a four-year-old daughter who relies on me. Mentally, I have the support of my siblings, parents, and friends, so I try not to think less of myself. God is the only person that I need right now, and only Him alone can fix things," said Morris.

As she undergoes treatment, Morris is grappling with the emotional weight of her condition, often wondering what she will look like once all the procedures are complete.

"But so far, I'm just trying not to view myself any less than others. It's just the grace of God that I believe in that's sustaining this confidence I have right now, that He will bring me through all this just fine," she said.

Beyond the mental and physical toll, Morris and her mother, Cynthia Henriques, are also facing enormous financial burdens.

"It's so bad, honestly, because I have to do a little cake sale or cookout to try to get the money so she can get what she needs," Henriques shared, adding that watching her daughter endure this disease has caused her immense distress.

"It's really hard. Sometimes I can't even find myself. Sometimes I want to eat a meal, and I can't even swallow it because every time I pick up the food, I see my daughter in front of me. Me can't eat, me can't even sleep," Henriques said through tears.

In the coming days, Morris is scheduled for a scan, which costs $400,000. After that, she will need radiotherapy, which will cost an estimated $2 million. Additionally, she has an outstanding hospital bill of $3.7 million at the University Hospital of the West Indies. To help offset the cost of Morris's treatment, her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of US$25,000 (approximately J$3.9 million). Up to press time, they had managed to raise US$4,464 (approximately J$695,000)--still a long way from the goal.

"I honestly don't even know where to start but to be honest, you're not just giving me another chance to life but to a cancer free future and to regain my beauty. Your generosity will help me focus on healing and living my best life. This donation will go towards my treatment, medication and travel expenses," explained Morris.

Before her diagnosis, Morris had big plans for herself and her child. Though she is currently unable to work, she remains hopeful that once she beats this disease, she will use her journey to inspire others facing similar struggles.

"I just want to be able to motivate others to keep doing regular checks just to ensure their body is fine. I wish this on no one," Morris said. She also had a message for anyone battling a life-altering disease.

"You are much more than your disease. Nothing beats you but your mind. Just keep praying and trusting in God because every day is a chance to love and motivate others."

Persons wishing to assist Lisa Morris, may contribute to her GoFundMe account at https://gofund.me/bbe2c6e8 or to Scotiabank account, Spanish Town branch, account number 847297, in the name Lisa Morris.