Saving A Star (Stage 4 colon cancer)
Donation protected
My name is RyAnn Star Weddle. I am a 38 year old wife, mother, daughter and cancer fighter from Evansville, Indiana.
~ On 3/14/16 I started having serious abdominal pain and rectal bleeding while I was at work. I went to Deaconess Hospital emergency room.I was admitted and on 3/17/16 I underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy & sigmoidoscopy that revealed a large, obstruction (mass) in my colon. ~ On 3/18/16 I had laparoscopic/sigmoid colectomy "resection" surgery to remove the mass and bowel obstruction. The pathologic results concluded that I have stage 3b colon cancer (T4,N1c,M0) ~On 04/21/16 I was given a treatment plan of 6 weeks of 24/5 chemotherapy (Monday-Friday) and daily radiation, followed by 4 months of once-a-week chemo. ~On June 24, 2016 I completed 30 rounds of radiation and over 860 hours of chemotherapy. ~On August 3, 2016. I started 9 rounds of 3 hour infusions followed by 48 hours of continuous chemo with a chemo ball that I will wear Wednesday-Friday. I should be done with these rounds in late December. (These rounds will add up to another 408 hours of chemotherapy) ~On December 10, 2016 I completed my last round of chemotherapy for 2016.
---------------------------------- I am currently having problems with my kidney (due to scar tissue from all the radiation) My kidney is currently functioning at less than 23%. I had surgery on 02/03/17 to have a permanent stent placed. It left me in unbearable pain so, on 4/6 I had the stent removed and had a nerphrostromy placed on 4/13. (A nephrostromy is a tube that runs into my kidney and out to an external bag) I now require medical supplies to take care of my tube, that insurance does not cover.
- On 5/18/17 during a tube change for my nephrostomy, I had a cat scan that revealed a large lesion on the right lobe of my liver. I had a biopsy and a petscan that confirmed my cancer has metastasized to my liver & also to a group of lymph nodes in my right groin. I now have end stage, stage 4 cancer.
- On 6/7/17 I started another round of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor on my liver.... the chemo was successful and I had liver resection surgery on 8/24/17 which has been followed by complications with my liver not draining bile properly so I have had another surgery to install a stent and another surgery to install a drain that runs from my liver to an outside bag. The complications have required more medical supplies and more medications, which I am unable to afford or receive assistance with.
- On Thanksgiving 2017 I was taken to the ER with a high fever and vomiting. During a cat scan to see if my drains were still in their proper places,the scan revealed several small nodules in both of my lungs. My oncologist has decided to do a pet-scan on 12/13/17 to see exactly what we are dealing with.
- On 12/28/17 following the results of the pet scan & appointment with a critical lung care pulmonologist, I had a biopsy of the lung and lymph node tumors which has been confirmed as metastasized cancer to my lungs. I have 4 tumors in each lung with lymph node involvement.
I see my oncologist on 1/10/18 to discuss future treatment options which are becoming limited due to all the damage left from the treatments & surgeries I have already endured. No treatments will be started until my complications from the liver resection are resolved and I no longer have a liver stent or liver drain placed. Life long chemotherapy (that is to prolong my life,not cure the cancer) maybe an option or I may just choose to live the life I have left without treatments (and without the harsh side effects of chemo)
My family and I find ourselves in a VERY difficult position. The loss of an income (I worked 40-50 hours a week up until being dx) and the added burden of medical bills, prescriptions, medical supplies, gas money to get to and from treatments and appointments is absolutely overwhelming. I have been denied for social security disability and am currently appealing the last denial I received for SSI.
Gift cards for gas, food and toiletries would also be appreciated
I know a lot of people are unsure about donating using GoFundMe due to the amount of money they charge per donation. I also have a youcaring account set up that you can donate to or here is my mailing address if you feel better donating that way.....
RyAnn Star Weddle
3105 E. Riverside Dr.
Evansville, In. 47714
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. If you could please share my campaign, with the hopes of reaching more people, sharing my two year battle with the Beast & spreading early-onset colon cancer awareness I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
RyAnn Star (McCallister) Weddle
~ On 3/14/16 I started having serious abdominal pain and rectal bleeding while I was at work. I went to Deaconess Hospital emergency room.I was admitted and on 3/17/16 I underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy & sigmoidoscopy that revealed a large, obstruction (mass) in my colon. ~ On 3/18/16 I had laparoscopic/sigmoid colectomy "resection" surgery to remove the mass and bowel obstruction. The pathologic results concluded that I have stage 3b colon cancer (T4,N1c,M0) ~On 04/21/16 I was given a treatment plan of 6 weeks of 24/5 chemotherapy (Monday-Friday) and daily radiation, followed by 4 months of once-a-week chemo. ~On June 24, 2016 I completed 30 rounds of radiation and over 860 hours of chemotherapy. ~On August 3, 2016. I started 9 rounds of 3 hour infusions followed by 48 hours of continuous chemo with a chemo ball that I will wear Wednesday-Friday. I should be done with these rounds in late December. (These rounds will add up to another 408 hours of chemotherapy) ~On December 10, 2016 I completed my last round of chemotherapy for 2016.
---------------------------------- I am currently having problems with my kidney (due to scar tissue from all the radiation) My kidney is currently functioning at less than 23%. I had surgery on 02/03/17 to have a permanent stent placed. It left me in unbearable pain so, on 4/6 I had the stent removed and had a nerphrostromy placed on 4/13. (A nephrostromy is a tube that runs into my kidney and out to an external bag) I now require medical supplies to take care of my tube, that insurance does not cover.
- On 5/18/17 during a tube change for my nephrostomy, I had a cat scan that revealed a large lesion on the right lobe of my liver. I had a biopsy and a petscan that confirmed my cancer has metastasized to my liver & also to a group of lymph nodes in my right groin. I now have end stage, stage 4 cancer.
- On 6/7/17 I started another round of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor on my liver.... the chemo was successful and I had liver resection surgery on 8/24/17 which has been followed by complications with my liver not draining bile properly so I have had another surgery to install a stent and another surgery to install a drain that runs from my liver to an outside bag. The complications have required more medical supplies and more medications, which I am unable to afford or receive assistance with.
- On Thanksgiving 2017 I was taken to the ER with a high fever and vomiting. During a cat scan to see if my drains were still in their proper places,the scan revealed several small nodules in both of my lungs. My oncologist has decided to do a pet-scan on 12/13/17 to see exactly what we are dealing with.
- On 12/28/17 following the results of the pet scan & appointment with a critical lung care pulmonologist, I had a biopsy of the lung and lymph node tumors which has been confirmed as metastasized cancer to my lungs. I have 4 tumors in each lung with lymph node involvement.
I see my oncologist on 1/10/18 to discuss future treatment options which are becoming limited due to all the damage left from the treatments & surgeries I have already endured. No treatments will be started until my complications from the liver resection are resolved and I no longer have a liver stent or liver drain placed. Life long chemotherapy (that is to prolong my life,not cure the cancer) maybe an option or I may just choose to live the life I have left without treatments (and without the harsh side effects of chemo)
My family and I find ourselves in a VERY difficult position. The loss of an income (I worked 40-50 hours a week up until being dx) and the added burden of medical bills, prescriptions, medical supplies, gas money to get to and from treatments and appointments is absolutely overwhelming. I have been denied for social security disability and am currently appealing the last denial I received for SSI.
Gift cards for gas, food and toiletries would also be appreciated
I know a lot of people are unsure about donating using GoFundMe due to the amount of money they charge per donation. I also have a youcaring account set up that you can donate to or here is my mailing address if you feel better donating that way.....
RyAnn Star Weddle
3105 E. Riverside Dr.
Evansville, In. 47714
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. If you could please share my campaign, with the hopes of reaching more people, sharing my two year battle with the Beast & spreading early-onset colon cancer awareness I would really appreciate it.
Thank you!
RyAnn Star (McCallister) Weddle
Organizer and beneficiary
RyAnn "Star" Weddle
Organizer
Evansville, IN
Sheryl McCallister
Beneficiary
