Annamaria's fight for life

Imagine being 23 years old and listening to a doctor tell you that your Cancer has returned and that there is nothing more they can do for you. I can't because its not happening to me but I have had to sit next to my cousin as she tells her loved ones that this is the end for her. A young woman I can only describe as, caring, beautiful and outgoing. The only person I know that truly loves and embraces life. Please read her story:

On the 20th of March 2012 Annamaria Gregorace started experiencing extreme chest pains. Followed by more episodes the coming weeks. After a visit with a GP Annamaria was diagnosed with acid reflux and sent home. The following few weeks she noticed swelling of her neck and chest. Following up with her regular GP she was diagnosed with an inflamed rib cage. A week later Annamaria passed out on the stairs at home and was rushed to Liverpool Hospital. There they preformed an X ray and found a large mass near her heart and lungs and diagnosed her with pneumonia. She was given a course of antibiotics through an IV. Annamaria also expressed concerns to the Doctors at the hospital that she was experiencing immense pain in her stomach but was reassured it was all related to her pneumonia. Upon discharge she went back to her regular GP and demanded an ultrasound of her stomach. The results returned what the doctor described as some sort of ‘disease’ but he was unsure of what exactly it was but was told if she experiences any further pains she was to immediately go to the emergency room with her results. Later that afternoon after waking from a nap she experienced horrific pains and yet again was rushed to Liverpool Emergency room. After countless tests and scans the doctors said they didn’t know what was wrong and sent all the family home. Only 10 minutes after the family had left the ED doctor returned and gave the shocking news that what they had found was numerous tumors that they presumed were cancerous but were unsure exactly what type and scheduled an emergency biopsy for the following morning. The biopsy was performed which came with its own complications as one of the tumors was 18 cm long and wrapping around her heart. Several days later on the 7th of May 2012 Annamaria was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma, at the young age of 19 years. Doctors had given her just 2 weeks to live if immediate treatment wasn’t started.

Six months of Chemotherapy was advised by the doctors and so the therapy began. During this time she experienced horrific side effects due to the treatment that included, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, aching bones and mouth ulcers. After treatment was concluded she was to have a PET scan to see the the effectiveness of the chemotherapy three months after it was finished. However only a month after treatment had ceased her symptoms had returned and the doctors moved the PET scan forward. On the 19th of January the results had shown she had relapsed and her tumors had grown 7 cm whilst having the chemotherapy. Doctors advised that the only options left was another round of intense chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy began for the next six months and in that time family were tested to try and find her a stem cell donor but there was no match. Instead they used Annamaria’s own stem cells. After the stem cell treatment was performed another PET scan was done and showed that the treatment didn’t work as they had hoped and was recommended Radiation was to begin. After 1 month of radiation a PET scan was performed yet again 3 months of the treatment and showed it had killed most of the tumors however there was still a 1mm tumor in her neck. Doctors advised that there wasn’t much they could do other than monitor it with a regular blood test every three months. Annamaria was told to go and enjoy life and that’s exactly what she did.

Fast forward 3 years and unfortunately she is reliving this nightmare again. She started experiencing the all too familiar chest pains. After having a blood test and seeing her haematologist the results came back inconclusive but all signs and symptoms pointing to her Hodgkin’s had returned. After an X-ray on the 15th of August she followed up with her specialist the following day and the reports suggested she has symptoms of pneumonia, however the specialist and Annamaria were not convinced and a repeated blood test is to be done 7 days following on the 26th August. The blood test again didn't show definative answers so a CT scan was ordered. On the 1st of September her results showed she has numerous of tumors in her chest cavity, including a large one putting pressure on one of her lungs. Her specialist was convinced now more then ever that Annamaria had indeed relapsed and wanted her to complete a PET scan to see if there were tumors anywhere else in her body and a biopsy to confirm the type of Cancer but he is convinced it is Hodgkins lymphoma. The results of the CT on the 8th of September showed she had tumors in several parts of her body. In this appointment the specialist discussed with Annamaria her options. Without doing anything she will have a good 6 months before her health starts to deteriorate. He spoke of several trial drugs that are available that could help slow down the growth of the tumors. The issue they are facing now is the possibility that the government may not approve her for funding for the trials and therefore leaves this 23 year old with the worry of finding the money to fund her own treatment. Over the next few weeks Annamaria will be meeting with new specialists at Concord hospital to explore these options further.

Her friends and family have created this page to not only share her story but to reach out and ask for help. This beautiful soul has so much more living to do and so much more she wants to experience in life. Medical costs over the next few months are going to be more than this single income family can manage to bare. We need everyone to help not only financially but by sharing her story so that everyone can get to know and be inspired by this beautiful woman, just like we have.

All donations are appreciated.  We have limited time to raise funds to ensure Annamaria gets the treatment required.