Kimberly's Cancer Recovery
Donation protected
Kimberly's Story:
Seven weeks after giving birth to her daughter, almost as many weeks prematurely, Kim was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer in April 2015 following a colonoscopy. (No wonder why her pregnancy was so difficult - she had to have iron infusions due to severe constant blood loss, suffered from extreme tummy troubles and even had fractured ribs.) Reeling from the emotions of being new parents and a devastating diagnosis, Kim and her husband Derek, went straight to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.
After immediate colon resection and tumor removal surgery, in which over ten inches of her colon was removed, Kim was sent home to recover. Weeks later, after the surgery was deemed successful, she then had a port installed in her chest to receive 12 rounds of chemo intended to kill the remaining cancer cells left in her lymph nodes. Kim breastfed her daughter Ellie throughout the entirety of her surgical recovery, determined to give her little angel all the benefits and nutrients she could, only stopping the first morning of chemo, when it would no longer be safe for the baby.
Chemo proved to be extremely difficult, yet she never missed a round and even had to go home with a pump after hours of in-chair infusions. Kim completed chemo last year and it was during this time the family bought their first home. They were told that the latest scans showed no evidence of disease and she had her port surgically removed a week after Ellie’s first birthday. They thought the nightmare could’ve been over.
Just three months later, the repeated scans showed the cancer had metastasized to Kim's liver and lung. She underwent a lung ablation interventional radiology procedure in June, during which her lung collapsed, and she still suffers from pain due to the placement of her chest and back tubes. In September, Kim had liver surgery to remove the tumor there, and while the surgery was successful, she is still suffering from complications. The surgeries and hospital stays are grueling for the family, who must be away from their daughter during the hospitalizations and rely on the assistance of friends and relatives when recovering. Kim’s anxiety is sky high as she is constantly in pain, worries about her family and where this advanced, aggressive cancer could return next. She tries to ignore the statistics that tell her she will not be around to walk her daughter to her first day of school.
Every three months, Kim gets several MRI’s and CT scans to see what is popping up where and determine the next course of treatment. She can no longer work and does her best to take care of her family and the home. Kim urges you to listen to your bodies. She has no genetic markers or family history and was otherwise healthy and fit, and yet she was still diagnosed with cancer before her 30th birthday. Get yourself to the right doctor if something is off!
How will your donations help?
In a very short time, the Bronsky family has lost an income and gained a daughter, a home in need of appliances and repairs, and daunting medical bills with no end in sight. With Kim's recurring cancer, frequent medical procedures, and weakened physical condition, all of the family's finances, time, and emotional energy have been devoted to her treatment and recovery. The significant repairs necessary for their new home have been put on hold, and they are being financially suffocated by the sudden loss of Kim's income, the growth of their family, and the looming medical expenses.
Some of family's most pressing needs include:
- New oven: The family's oven has been non-functional for the past year. They have been doing their best to make due without it and relying on the generosity of friends and relatives, who have been delivering meals to the family on a daily basis for the past several weeks.
- Wet basement in need of dehumidifier
- Washing machine
- Replace HVAC system
- Repairs to bathroom plumbing and ventilation
- Fix issues needed to bring property to code for homeowner's insurance
- Indoor and outdoor electrical repairs
- Replace cracked and loose kitchen tiles
- Garage door repairs
- Replace windows
- Screens for windows
- Assistance with indoor and outdoor maintenance
The Bronsky family is incredibly grateful for your love and generosity.
Seven weeks after giving birth to her daughter, almost as many weeks prematurely, Kim was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer in April 2015 following a colonoscopy. (No wonder why her pregnancy was so difficult - she had to have iron infusions due to severe constant blood loss, suffered from extreme tummy troubles and even had fractured ribs.) Reeling from the emotions of being new parents and a devastating diagnosis, Kim and her husband Derek, went straight to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.
After immediate colon resection and tumor removal surgery, in which over ten inches of her colon was removed, Kim was sent home to recover. Weeks later, after the surgery was deemed successful, she then had a port installed in her chest to receive 12 rounds of chemo intended to kill the remaining cancer cells left in her lymph nodes. Kim breastfed her daughter Ellie throughout the entirety of her surgical recovery, determined to give her little angel all the benefits and nutrients she could, only stopping the first morning of chemo, when it would no longer be safe for the baby.
Chemo proved to be extremely difficult, yet she never missed a round and even had to go home with a pump after hours of in-chair infusions. Kim completed chemo last year and it was during this time the family bought their first home. They were told that the latest scans showed no evidence of disease and she had her port surgically removed a week after Ellie’s first birthday. They thought the nightmare could’ve been over.
Just three months later, the repeated scans showed the cancer had metastasized to Kim's liver and lung. She underwent a lung ablation interventional radiology procedure in June, during which her lung collapsed, and she still suffers from pain due to the placement of her chest and back tubes. In September, Kim had liver surgery to remove the tumor there, and while the surgery was successful, she is still suffering from complications. The surgeries and hospital stays are grueling for the family, who must be away from their daughter during the hospitalizations and rely on the assistance of friends and relatives when recovering. Kim’s anxiety is sky high as she is constantly in pain, worries about her family and where this advanced, aggressive cancer could return next. She tries to ignore the statistics that tell her she will not be around to walk her daughter to her first day of school.
Every three months, Kim gets several MRI’s and CT scans to see what is popping up where and determine the next course of treatment. She can no longer work and does her best to take care of her family and the home. Kim urges you to listen to your bodies. She has no genetic markers or family history and was otherwise healthy and fit, and yet she was still diagnosed with cancer before her 30th birthday. Get yourself to the right doctor if something is off!
How will your donations help?
In a very short time, the Bronsky family has lost an income and gained a daughter, a home in need of appliances and repairs, and daunting medical bills with no end in sight. With Kim's recurring cancer, frequent medical procedures, and weakened physical condition, all of the family's finances, time, and emotional energy have been devoted to her treatment and recovery. The significant repairs necessary for their new home have been put on hold, and they are being financially suffocated by the sudden loss of Kim's income, the growth of their family, and the looming medical expenses.
Some of family's most pressing needs include:
- New oven: The family's oven has been non-functional for the past year. They have been doing their best to make due without it and relying on the generosity of friends and relatives, who have been delivering meals to the family on a daily basis for the past several weeks.
- Wet basement in need of dehumidifier
- Washing machine
- Replace HVAC system
- Repairs to bathroom plumbing and ventilation
- Fix issues needed to bring property to code for homeowner's insurance
- Indoor and outdoor electrical repairs
- Replace cracked and loose kitchen tiles
- Garage door repairs
- Replace windows
- Screens for windows
- Assistance with indoor and outdoor maintenance
The Bronsky family is incredibly grateful for your love and generosity.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Allshouse
Organizer
Highland Park, NJ
Kimberly Bronsky
Beneficiary
