A Mother, Who Always Put Her Children First, Now Battling Breast Cancer

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. -- For the past 18 years, Joan Evans has put her four kids first. She’s there in the morning to watch her 12-year-old autistic son, Brett, wait for the school bus at the end of the driveway. She’s there during the day to attend school meetings for her 18-year-old triplets who all have cerebral palsy, including brothers Bradley and Grant. She’s there at night to occasionally sleep in the living room next to her third triplet, Meredith, who stays in a wheelchair.
But after being diagnosed with advanced (stage three) breast cancer this summer, Joan, of Elk Grove Village, is coming to terms with the fact that now she must put herself first.
"I have a hard time asking for help, so that’s probably what’s hardest for me,” she said, her voice filled with concern. “I’m glad that somebody saw we needed it because I wasn’t going to go ask.”