Help Julie Williams Cancer Fight
Donation protected
I'm Doug Williams and I'm 65 yrs. old and retired. My beautiful, wonderful wife is Julie Williams, who is 58 yrs. old. We've been married for 34 incredible years.
In December 2014, Julie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The type of tumor that she has is a muscinous tumor which produces fluid called ascites, which fills her abdominal cavity. This fluid must be drained to get her room to breath, eat and drink. The procedure is called a paracentesis and she requires one every three weeks. She has had this procedure 34 times so far.
She began chemotherapy at Atlanta's Northside Hospital in January of 2015. Since then, she has had 32 chemo treatments of various types, obviously in an effort to find the one that will reduce the fluid as completely as possible. Julie's oncologists have explained that before the total hysterectomy can happen, the fluid must be reduced almost 100% in an effort to minimize chances for spreading the disease. We have not yet achieved the ideal situation for surgery to take place.
Studies have proven that there are many types of chemo which are specified for treatment of one type of cancer, BUT have been found to overlap and be beneficial to treating yet another type of cancer. Currently, Julie is being given chemo that is typically used for colo-rectal cancer. Her cancer marker numbers began showing improvement. She began having more energy and found it easier to maintain her lovely, positive attitude.
Then, in late April, Julie had a stroke. Chemo had to be suspended while she spent several weeks in the hospital. Use of her left side was impaired. She had extreme weakness and, at first, could barely use her left arm. She was admitted to in hospital physical, occupational and speech and cognitive therapy.
With therapy while hospitalized, there was improvement.
She was finally released and there were plans to resume the chemo treatments. Then, ten days later, Julie had a second stroke, a TIA, which is a mild and often temporary type of stroke. She spent a few days in the hospital and was released.
She then began outpatient therapies there at the hospital with good results.
After clearance by all physicians and neurologists, she was cleared to resume chemo, which she did roughly two months ago. With each treatment, Julie noticed the weakness in her left side returning, in spite of all the progress that had been made with therapy. The weakness, we were told, is a side effect of the chemo.
Two weeks ago, pre-dawn on a Saturday moring, Julie tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. She couldn't hold herself up and could only crumple to the floor. She was between the bed, the walker and her wheelchair. I moved all the hardware and tried lifting her up. Because she didn't have the strength to get her legs under her, nor could she get on her knees to get up, I could not lift her. We had to call the paramedics to get her up. She wanted to be taken to the hospital. She felt she needed fluids and wanted the weakness checked out.
You see, after each in office infusion of the chemo, she wears a chemo pump home for two days. Then we go in for the pump to be removed. The chemo causes Julie to have diarrhea, sometimes severe. This obviously depletes her fluids. Her appetite is negatively affected by severe nausea and the presence of the ascites taking up so much room in her abdomen.
Now we are faced with her weakness, caused by chemo, not having the time to get much better before the next chemo. Chemos are every two weeks. On the alternate weeks, she has to go Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a white blood count booster shot. Her white blood count suffers from the chemo. I don't mind saying just how afraid this delicate balance between what's needed and what can be tolerated has made us. We are terrified!
This last week, chemo was cancelled because a bump appeared near her power port that looked a bit infected. She was prescribed antibiotics in hopes to enable her to resume chemo again next week. We'll see.
We have tons of friends praying for Julie's healing, and as the sole caregiver, my strength to take care of, literally, everything else and for the financial help we need to survive. We have insurance but it's hugely expensive.
Julie was an excellent administrative assistant for CVS pharmacy and obviously can not work again until major progress is made. She is on COBRA health insurance which is $475 per month. Her life insurance is almost $1200.00 per quarter. This obviously doesn't include house payment, utilities, gas, food, endless medical supplies and every day, unforseen expenses. We have had to apply for financial assistance with both Northside and Wellstar hospitals to help with that which insurance does not pay. We are financially struggling and barely keeping our heads above water. The stress of the cancer fight and all the ugly side effects is quite enough for anyone to bear. Add to that the unrelenting pressure of massive financial worries and it's not a situation that lends itself to create a healing environment.
When all this began, I said, if it is possible to love someone back to health, then that's what I'm going to do for my precious Julie. Unfortunately, the business of medicine only understands and wants one thing... money.
We are humbly asking for your help. We would be SO very grateful for ANY amount you could contribute to help finance and further these efforts to save my dear wife!! No amount is too small and every single penny will be so very appreciated and put to good use. I cannot imagine life without my girl!! I will do everything in my power to prevent that, but we need help.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this. Please pray for us!! This is the toughest battle we've ever had to fight. And by the Grace of Almighty God, we shall come through it. And when we do, Julie and I promise to pay this help forward to another cancer patient struggling to live! Thank you all so very much and may God bless you!!!
In December 2014, Julie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The type of tumor that she has is a muscinous tumor which produces fluid called ascites, which fills her abdominal cavity. This fluid must be drained to get her room to breath, eat and drink. The procedure is called a paracentesis and she requires one every three weeks. She has had this procedure 34 times so far.
She began chemotherapy at Atlanta's Northside Hospital in January of 2015. Since then, she has had 32 chemo treatments of various types, obviously in an effort to find the one that will reduce the fluid as completely as possible. Julie's oncologists have explained that before the total hysterectomy can happen, the fluid must be reduced almost 100% in an effort to minimize chances for spreading the disease. We have not yet achieved the ideal situation for surgery to take place.
Studies have proven that there are many types of chemo which are specified for treatment of one type of cancer, BUT have been found to overlap and be beneficial to treating yet another type of cancer. Currently, Julie is being given chemo that is typically used for colo-rectal cancer. Her cancer marker numbers began showing improvement. She began having more energy and found it easier to maintain her lovely, positive attitude.
Then, in late April, Julie had a stroke. Chemo had to be suspended while she spent several weeks in the hospital. Use of her left side was impaired. She had extreme weakness and, at first, could barely use her left arm. She was admitted to in hospital physical, occupational and speech and cognitive therapy.
With therapy while hospitalized, there was improvement.
She was finally released and there were plans to resume the chemo treatments. Then, ten days later, Julie had a second stroke, a TIA, which is a mild and often temporary type of stroke. She spent a few days in the hospital and was released.
She then began outpatient therapies there at the hospital with good results.
After clearance by all physicians and neurologists, she was cleared to resume chemo, which she did roughly two months ago. With each treatment, Julie noticed the weakness in her left side returning, in spite of all the progress that had been made with therapy. The weakness, we were told, is a side effect of the chemo.
Two weeks ago, pre-dawn on a Saturday moring, Julie tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. She couldn't hold herself up and could only crumple to the floor. She was between the bed, the walker and her wheelchair. I moved all the hardware and tried lifting her up. Because she didn't have the strength to get her legs under her, nor could she get on her knees to get up, I could not lift her. We had to call the paramedics to get her up. She wanted to be taken to the hospital. She felt she needed fluids and wanted the weakness checked out.
You see, after each in office infusion of the chemo, she wears a chemo pump home for two days. Then we go in for the pump to be removed. The chemo causes Julie to have diarrhea, sometimes severe. This obviously depletes her fluids. Her appetite is negatively affected by severe nausea and the presence of the ascites taking up so much room in her abdomen.
Now we are faced with her weakness, caused by chemo, not having the time to get much better before the next chemo. Chemos are every two weeks. On the alternate weeks, she has to go Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a white blood count booster shot. Her white blood count suffers from the chemo. I don't mind saying just how afraid this delicate balance between what's needed and what can be tolerated has made us. We are terrified!
This last week, chemo was cancelled because a bump appeared near her power port that looked a bit infected. She was prescribed antibiotics in hopes to enable her to resume chemo again next week. We'll see.
We have tons of friends praying for Julie's healing, and as the sole caregiver, my strength to take care of, literally, everything else and for the financial help we need to survive. We have insurance but it's hugely expensive.
Julie was an excellent administrative assistant for CVS pharmacy and obviously can not work again until major progress is made. She is on COBRA health insurance which is $475 per month. Her life insurance is almost $1200.00 per quarter. This obviously doesn't include house payment, utilities, gas, food, endless medical supplies and every day, unforseen expenses. We have had to apply for financial assistance with both Northside and Wellstar hospitals to help with that which insurance does not pay. We are financially struggling and barely keeping our heads above water. The stress of the cancer fight and all the ugly side effects is quite enough for anyone to bear. Add to that the unrelenting pressure of massive financial worries and it's not a situation that lends itself to create a healing environment.
When all this began, I said, if it is possible to love someone back to health, then that's what I'm going to do for my precious Julie. Unfortunately, the business of medicine only understands and wants one thing... money.
We are humbly asking for your help. We would be SO very grateful for ANY amount you could contribute to help finance and further these efforts to save my dear wife!! No amount is too small and every single penny will be so very appreciated and put to good use. I cannot imagine life without my girl!! I will do everything in my power to prevent that, but we need help.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this. Please pray for us!! This is the toughest battle we've ever had to fight. And by the Grace of Almighty God, we shall come through it. And when we do, Julie and I promise to pay this help forward to another cancer patient struggling to live! Thank you all so very much and may God bless you!!!
Organizer
Doug Williams
Organizer
Mableton, GA