Mother says she needs vaccine to be by daughter’s side during cancer treatment

Reporter: Sydney Persing Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published:
Marjorie Gregory’s daughter has cancer, and she has not been able to be by her side, but she is her daughter’s primary caregiver. Gregory says she needs to get the coronavirus vaccine if she wants to help her daughter through treatment. Credit: WINK News.

The pandemic is not only taking lives but taking comfort out of people’s lives.

A mother feels helpless after not being able to get the vaccine, which means not being able to be with her daughter who is battling cancer.

Marjorie Gregory is the primary caregiver for her daughter, Debbie, who is set to have a transplant soon, but doctors say it’s too risky for her to be there.

Gregory shared her quest about all the ways she has tried to get in line for a shot.

“The first thing I did was call Collier County,” Gregory said. “I called the governor’s office.”

She said she’s called local hospitals, local clinics — both federal and state too.

“Have not heard back,” Gregory said. “He said, ‘No, there’s no way.’”

Marjorie told us another story. It was about Debbie.

“My daughter has multiple myeloma,” Gregory explained. “She’s already had one stem cell transplant. It was rough.”

Gregory cared for her daughter through it all and helped her for almost a year.

Debbie needs another transplant now.

“She takes 26, 28 chemos prior to that,” Gregory said.

The difference this time is Marjorie Gregory can’t be there for her daughter until she gets a vaccine.

“It’s the most important thing in the world, my kid,” Gregory said.

Time together is precious, and Debbie’s cancer is incurable.

“No words,” Gregory said. “She’s a trooper; she’s a fighter; I’m so proud of her.”

Gregory is tough too, so she’ll keep fighting.

“There’s always the hope and prayer for a cure I pray will happen,” Gregory said. “She’s my life. She’s my everything.”

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