Tonys 30-Year Fight
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Hello, my name is Tony Pottorff. My metastatic/stage 4 breast cancer journey continues to be filled with blessings, encouragement, and generosity. While my diagnosis of 3-5 years to live was the most devastating experience in my life, it was also through this diagnosis that I experienced an unmistakable faith in the goodness of humanity. Small and large signs of God’s grace continue to shape my life on a consistent basis. Truth be told, my goal is to survive at least another 30 years – long enough to see my daughters’ high school and college graduations, walk both of them down the aisle on their wedding days, and revel in the joy of my grandchildren. Of course, I also want to grow old with my one, true soulmate – Margie.
The primary area that continues to be an obstacle on my path to healing is finances. Like a snowball rolling downhill, medical bills continue to build on one another, creating what seems like an insurmountable challenge staring me in the face most days. Unexpected expenses, like vitamin and other supplements, which are strongly encouraged by my doctors, and the wear and tear on our car from the regular trips to Indianapolis and beyond for medical treatment, have also recently shook our budget.
I am asking for your support in the following ways in my “30-Year Fight” Campaign:
1. Prayers and good vibes for continued stability in my cancer treatment, eventually leading to FULL REMISSION.
2. Sharing this Go Fund Me page with your FB friends.
3. Asking your FB friends to reshare this GoFund Me page with their friends.
4. If you feel led, a monetary donation of any size.
If you are interested, a more detailed version of my cancer journey follows:
June 13, 2017, was a day that forever changed my life. I went to the hospital for what I believed was an ordinary ultrasound to check a lump in my left breast. The assumption was that it would show nothing out-of-the-ordinary and I would continue on the fairly predictable and fulfilling path into which my life had settled. Within an hour of my arrival, my entire life was turned upside down as I found out that with what the doctor said was “99% certainty”, the lump was cancerous.
The next seven days were a blur – my head sent spinning by multiple doctors’ appointments, research on the internet that painted a relatively grim picture of my prognosis, and phone calls to fellow cancer patients seeking advice. It was exactly one week after the initial prediction of cancer that I found out my exact diagnosis: stage 4/metastatic breast cancer, meaning that it had spread to other parts of my body and was incurable. Specifically, the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. At that point, I had no idea how long I would be told I had to live. That information came quickly, however – 3-5 years was the consensus among my doctors.
I now stand close to 2 years from that date, feeling fairly well most days, with the exception of the fatigue my treatments have brought on and a gnawing realization that the rest of my life will be filled with hospital visits, medical tests, and bated breath that my cancer is not progressing. A couple months ago, I was given some hope. My PET scan revealed that I am in partial remission, which is the best that my doctors say I can hope for. I am standing firmly on my faith in God and the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us by so many since my diagnosis to say, “That is not the best I can hope for, my goal is to survive another 30 years”. Again, I say that with complete sincerity.
I have so much to live for – a wife that has been by my side through all the peaks and valleys of this journey, two beautiful daughters that continue to amaze us in new ways every day, and a job that is a source of motivation and positive energy which allows me to look forward rather than backward as I observe the excitement and hopes my students have for the future.
If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for taking the time to do so. Blessings and love to all!!
The primary area that continues to be an obstacle on my path to healing is finances. Like a snowball rolling downhill, medical bills continue to build on one another, creating what seems like an insurmountable challenge staring me in the face most days. Unexpected expenses, like vitamin and other supplements, which are strongly encouraged by my doctors, and the wear and tear on our car from the regular trips to Indianapolis and beyond for medical treatment, have also recently shook our budget.
I am asking for your support in the following ways in my “30-Year Fight” Campaign:
1. Prayers and good vibes for continued stability in my cancer treatment, eventually leading to FULL REMISSION.
2. Sharing this Go Fund Me page with your FB friends.
3. Asking your FB friends to reshare this GoFund Me page with their friends.
4. If you feel led, a monetary donation of any size.
If you are interested, a more detailed version of my cancer journey follows:
June 13, 2017, was a day that forever changed my life. I went to the hospital for what I believed was an ordinary ultrasound to check a lump in my left breast. The assumption was that it would show nothing out-of-the-ordinary and I would continue on the fairly predictable and fulfilling path into which my life had settled. Within an hour of my arrival, my entire life was turned upside down as I found out that with what the doctor said was “99% certainty”, the lump was cancerous.
The next seven days were a blur – my head sent spinning by multiple doctors’ appointments, research on the internet that painted a relatively grim picture of my prognosis, and phone calls to fellow cancer patients seeking advice. It was exactly one week after the initial prediction of cancer that I found out my exact diagnosis: stage 4/metastatic breast cancer, meaning that it had spread to other parts of my body and was incurable. Specifically, the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. At that point, I had no idea how long I would be told I had to live. That information came quickly, however – 3-5 years was the consensus among my doctors.
I now stand close to 2 years from that date, feeling fairly well most days, with the exception of the fatigue my treatments have brought on and a gnawing realization that the rest of my life will be filled with hospital visits, medical tests, and bated breath that my cancer is not progressing. A couple months ago, I was given some hope. My PET scan revealed that I am in partial remission, which is the best that my doctors say I can hope for. I am standing firmly on my faith in God and the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us by so many since my diagnosis to say, “That is not the best I can hope for, my goal is to survive another 30 years”. Again, I say that with complete sincerity.
I have so much to live for – a wife that has been by my side through all the peaks and valleys of this journey, two beautiful daughters that continue to amaze us in new ways every day, and a job that is a source of motivation and positive energy which allows me to look forward rather than backward as I observe the excitement and hopes my students have for the future.
If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for taking the time to do so. Blessings and love to all!!
Organizer
Tony Pottorff
Organizer
Columbus, IN
