Team Tara

My cancer battle began in 2004 when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, 2 months divorced with a 4 year old to take care off. Then in December of 2016 it reared it’s ugly head again with a stage 4b Uterine Cancer diagnosis with no prior symptoms. For the last 3 years I’ve gone through chemo, radiation, trials, immunotherapy. I did everything the doctors recommended. Now we are here .... I was at Vassar ER in February for trouble breathing (Dr Jessie rocked). They didn’t see anything they could do so they referred me to follow up with Sloan. So Thursday night, after a long day of coughing & trying to catch my breath, Kevin & I headed to Manhattan at the request of my dr. I was admitted for 3 days. It was down there we found out the the cancer has spread to my right lung & got confirmation that the large lump on my side, spreading to my back is cancer. I’ve been receiving chemo (Doxil) which has been extremely hard on my body. Last week we headed out to Chicago to The Cancer Treatment Centers of America. They wouldn’t do anything differently than Sloan, so we decided to continue with Sloan. However, when we were out there they discovered I had a blood clot in my lung & the cancer has spread to both lungs & will continue to spread. Clearly this was shocking news - I’m still trying to process it myself, let alone making sure Matt, Kevin & my family are on the same page every step of the way. It’s a scary road we are starting down but all the people in my corner, rooting me on, praying (especially for Matt), make it a less scary. If you really know me, you also know that “I’m fine”, “I got this”, and I don’t accept, let alone ask for help. But now the rules have changed. And I have to be honest with myself & everyone else. I’m NOT fine. I DON’T have this. I NEED & WILL now need to ask for & accept help. As you all know I was forced to stop working in February, which is both frustrating and necessary for me. It takes so much effort just to walk up the stairs. I will be needing banisters installed as soon as possible (I have them - just need them cut, painted & installed). Thank you for everyone who has supported us throughout these last 3 years. But now we need you more than forever. Matt will need you all going forward. Please pray. Don’t hesitate to reach out. If you can’t reach out, I understand that, too. If I don’t get back to you immediately, please understand that this intense treatment will be taking a lot out of me so I will get back to you as I can. I’m holding a garage sale at my house next weekend, 7/13 & 7/14, from 9am-2pm to help offset the medical bills & related costs. The medical bills are piling up faster than I can open them. I love all of you & am blessed to have you in our corner. ❤️ #teamtara #canceraf #cancerwarrior