Team Christine
Donation protected
Family and Friends,
On November 4th, 2020 our Mother began experiencing intense pressure and pain on the right side of her stomach through the right side of the back. By Monday, November 9th, the pain was unbearable as she called insisting we bring her to the ER. If you know Christine, you know she loathes Hospitals, so we knew something must be wrong if she was desperate enough to ask to be taken to the Emergency Room. On November 12th, our world changed immediately and drastically, as we learned our Mother had been officially diagnosed with locally advanced Cholangiocarcinoma. This is an extremely rare cancer located in the Bile Duct.
Unfortunately, the Doctors found serval large lymph nodes in that surrounding area (on the liver, pancreas and bile ducts) and further testing had taken place to see if it had spread to her lungs or else where. She had two procedures take place during her week stay at OUMC in November, where a few stents had been placed inside the bile ducts, as this allows the bile to flow properly, when it doesn’t, it results in her bilirubin to skyrocket and when that happens jaundice levels becomes a concern. On December 2nd, Christine had her first appointment at the Stephenson Cancer Treatment Center here in OKC. We learned a lot that appointment. Christine’s chemotherapy will happen in three week cycles.
The first week, “Day 1”, she will have the following Chemo Medications infused via IV 1. Gemcitabine 2. Cisplantin, the following week, Week 2 - Day 8, she will have her second chemotherapy treatment with the same medications. Week 3 is rest, then we are back at it and the cycle continues. After, the first cycle the Doctors will then schedule Christine for a scan to see how her body is reacting to treatment. This helps them to monitor and make changes as needed. This also helps us to know how better to fight this aggressive cancer. After a few cycles and scans, she will then receive a CRT for Consolidation then possibly move on to a single agent. The side effects for this Chemotherapy includes the following: • Fatigue • Numbness/Tingling • Kidney Disfunction • Counts Low - Infection • Hair thinning/loss • Hearing Loss • 100.4 Fever - ER
Christine has begun her first chemo treatment on January 21st and her D2 was on January 28th. Third week is a resting week. Chemotherapy appointments last about 7hrs, she will be considered an outpatient so once she’s done, we get to go home. The home part is where things get uneasy and where her journey and fight through this will be difficult. The mental, physical and emotional toll this will take on her daily life will be a lot, however, we can do hard things. We are all in this together. In our family, no one fights alone.
Christine has not been able to work during all of this so understandably, her focus goes straight to all the what if’s, how’s, and feeling as if she’s burdening us kids with the responsibilities she’s no longer able to attend to, this includes her sister, Arlene. However, if you know how our family works, you know we don’t work alone. We are coordinating schedules so that we can help each other out in a week by week case. We are staying organized, hopeful and doing our best to balance all the things. We’ve had a flood of prayers and encouraging support from so many loved ones- family and friends and we are beyond grateful to you all. I’m considering all finances at this point and sacrifices will have to be made if we can’t make ends meet with the costs of care.
Christine’s insurance was extend until April and with the costs of treatment/medication/support in general - we want to ensure our Mother receives the upmost care so that she can come out of this. However, her insurance covers practically nothing. With Chemotherapy Medications costing as much as $1,437.85...(that’s for ONE prescription). So far your donations have gone towards a walker, a wheelchair, a shower chair, a heating pad, prescriptions, co-pays and bills such as; phone, water, electric, internet and cable. We are so thankful for everyone’s contributions in aiding our Mother and we keep each of you I our prayers and thoughts. Without your selfless help, we wouldn’t have been able to get this far. Thank you, thank you a million times.
For He is the only one who knows the blueprint of our lives, He knew our name before our parents spoke it and He knows all the days of our lives. We are putting all of our faith, no matter the size, towards our Heavenly Father, after all, He is a miracle worker, He is a healer, and He makes a way for us always. If you have any questions, concerns or just want to check in...please, do so. We are all taking it one day at a time. We are all living in the moment as we don’t want to miss what God has for us and want to live everyday a good day. A good day does not exclude feeling all the big feelings that this news has on our family, however, it’s about finding the good and enjoying it one day at a time. After all, yesterday no longer exists and tomorrow is never promised. Therefore, every day will be a day where we give thanks for rising yet again, we will laugh, cry and love unconditionally.
Our family asks you to include Christine in your prayers but many have asked how you can help? Funds raised will go towards medical costs, medical supplies and general support for Christine’s fight against Cholangiocarcinoma. Anything helps, even a share! We thank you, from the depths of our hearts, for all your overwhelming love and support.
For more information visit: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Cancer | TestMyCholangio.com Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Unfortunately, the Doctors found serval large lymph nodes in that surrounding area (on the liver, pancreas and bile ducts) and further testing had taken place to see if it had spread to her lungs or else where. She had two procedures take place during her week stay at OUMC in November, where a few stents had been placed inside the bile ducts, as this allows the bile to flow properly, when it doesn’t, it results in her bilirubin to skyrocket and when that happens jaundice levels becomes a concern. On December 2nd, Christine had her first appointment at the Stephenson Cancer Treatment Center here in OKC. We learned a lot that appointment. Christine’s chemotherapy will happen in three week cycles.
The first week, “Day 1”, she will have the following Chemo Medications infused via IV 1. Gemcitabine 2. Cisplantin, the following week, Week 2 - Day 8, she will have her second chemotherapy treatment with the same medications. Week 3 is rest, then we are back at it and the cycle continues. After, the first cycle the Doctors will then schedule Christine for a scan to see how her body is reacting to treatment. This helps them to monitor and make changes as needed. This also helps us to know how better to fight this aggressive cancer. After a few cycles and scans, she will then receive a CRT for Consolidation then possibly move on to a single agent. The side effects for this Chemotherapy includes the following: • Fatigue • Numbness/Tingling • Kidney Disfunction • Counts Low - Infection • Hair thinning/loss • Hearing Loss • 100.4 Fever - ER
Christine has begun her first chemo treatment on January 21st and her D2 was on January 28th. Third week is a resting week. Chemotherapy appointments last about 7hrs, she will be considered an outpatient so once she’s done, we get to go home. The home part is where things get uneasy and where her journey and fight through this will be difficult. The mental, physical and emotional toll this will take on her daily life will be a lot, however, we can do hard things. We are all in this together. In our family, no one fights alone.
Christine has not been able to work during all of this so understandably, her focus goes straight to all the what if’s, how’s, and feeling as if she’s burdening us kids with the responsibilities she’s no longer able to attend to, this includes her sister, Arlene. However, if you know how our family works, you know we don’t work alone. We are coordinating schedules so that we can help each other out in a week by week case. We are staying organized, hopeful and doing our best to balance all the things. We’ve had a flood of prayers and encouraging support from so many loved ones- family and friends and we are beyond grateful to you all. I’m considering all finances at this point and sacrifices will have to be made if we can’t make ends meet with the costs of care.
Christine’s insurance was extend until April and with the costs of treatment/medication/support in general - we want to ensure our Mother receives the upmost care so that she can come out of this. However, her insurance covers practically nothing. With Chemotherapy Medications costing as much as $1,437.85...(that’s for ONE prescription). So far your donations have gone towards a walker, a wheelchair, a shower chair, a heating pad, prescriptions, co-pays and bills such as; phone, water, electric, internet and cable. We are so thankful for everyone’s contributions in aiding our Mother and we keep each of you I our prayers and thoughts. Without your selfless help, we wouldn’t have been able to get this far. Thank you, thank you a million times.
For He is the only one who knows the blueprint of our lives, He knew our name before our parents spoke it and He knows all the days of our lives. We are putting all of our faith, no matter the size, towards our Heavenly Father, after all, He is a miracle worker, He is a healer, and He makes a way for us always. If you have any questions, concerns or just want to check in...please, do so. We are all taking it one day at a time. We are all living in the moment as we don’t want to miss what God has for us and want to live everyday a good day. A good day does not exclude feeling all the big feelings that this news has on our family, however, it’s about finding the good and enjoying it one day at a time. After all, yesterday no longer exists and tomorrow is never promised. Therefore, every day will be a day where we give thanks for rising yet again, we will laugh, cry and love unconditionally.
Our family asks you to include Christine in your prayers but many have asked how you can help? Funds raised will go towards medical costs, medical supplies and general support for Christine’s fight against Cholangiocarcinoma. Anything helps, even a share! We thank you, from the depths of our hearts, for all your overwhelming love and support.
For more information visit: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) Cancer | TestMyCholangio.com Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Organizer
Vanessa Thomas
Organizer
Edmond, OK