Toni’s Cancer Recovery Fundraiser

In March, Toni found out she had thyroid cancer. I am starting this fundraiser to assist her with not only medical expenses, but assistance in paying for her essentials (bills, food, medications) while she recovers. Due to all of her recent appointments, follow ups and surgeries, she is without PTO while she recovers. And while she does have medical insurance, as you can imagine, surgeries, radiation, medications are not cheap. Toni is a Certified Peer Specialist that works day in and day out helping others. It kills her to not be able to help others while she is recovering, however, she is faced with either working against doctors orders during her recovery time, or taking unpaid leave. In her words: “Thank you all for your prayers lately. I don’t typically post much of my personal business on social media but I also don’t want anyone to feel left out. TL;DR - I have thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer just a couple weeks ago after my primary care physician had a biopsy of a lump in my neck done. She quickly got me in to see an Endocrinologist who then referred me to a surgeon ( I saw in person 2 days after I met with her) who is very experienced with this type of issue. There is a small nodule on each lobe of my thyroid as well as a much larger one on my pyramidal lobe, which is also part of your thyroid. He did a thorough physical exam and palpated the larger “lump” while doing a swallow test to determine how it affects my swallowing ability. He then pulls out his schedule and tells me they are only doing essential surgeries and this is in fact essential. He explained the procedure, the reasoning for the urgency and answered all of my questions.” Her first surgery was Wednesday, April 15, at Mease Countryside Hospital. They removed her entire thyroid as well as my pyramidal lobe. Upon her next appointment, it was found that there was actually two types of cancer, papillary and follicular. The follicular metastasized and entered two lymph nodes and a few muscles. She will start radiation in May & it will require her to again be hospitalized. I know many are faced with hardships during this pandemic our world is facing and we completely understand. Prayers are also greatly appreciated at this time.