Support Cindy’s Rare Spine Tumor Battle

Update as of October 3rd, 2024:

Cindy’s latest CT scan revealed that the past year's treatments have failed, and her condition has deteriorated. The bone break near her spine isn't healing, and the tumor has grown twice its original size. Surgery to remove the tumor is now her only option (when before it was deemed dangerous to do so), but it's extremely risky due to its connection to her spine's blood supply. Cindy’s chances of survival or waking up without paralysis are low, and she has been told to prepare her affairs. A surgery date is to be set by next Monday. Cindy and her family are absolutely frightened and have been shedding tears non-stop. Cindy unfortunately does not have life insurance and can’t due to being “terminally ill”. We are looking into any possible way for this, but for now donations are what is keeping them afloat. All funds will pay for any funeral expenses and support her children if worst case scenario… but if she makes it through the surgery it will pay any medical bills, bills or necessities that her family and she may have while she is (potentially) down for 6 months.

Original story below: ⬇️

Since December of 2022, Cindy had severe neck pain. She did everything possible (prescribed by her doctor) such as physical therapy, every type of muscle relaxer, x-rays and CT scans throughout 2023. Finally, after figuring out some health insurance issues that arose, she was able to schedule an MRI as the pain was still there, becoming more intense but no answers given thus far. They got her in quickly in October, where then they informed her why she was having this pain. A tumor had been growing on the base of her neck. She was then referred to have a biopsy done and plan a surgery. The tumor was hard to pinpoint as benign and was growing larger faster than before and her neck bone was very deteriorated by the time they took another look. They admitted her in November right before Thanksgiving and her youngest son's birthday, along with zero work for the next 3 to 6 months. The surgery was unsuccessful. They found out that once inside the bone was too far gone, and that the tumor was connected to a major blood supply to her spinal cord, and removing the tumor would have shattered the bone completely and severed her blood supply causing her to be paralyzed or worst…. Instead, they placed a rod and screws to hold her neck together and closed her back up. They decided chemo was the only way at this point. While recovering and doing chemo, Cindy had been told to not work. She had limited mobility with her neck until it fully healed, and just recently finished her treatment. She had a phone appointment with Disability in March but they said to not guarantee anything for another few months after to a year.

But here we are in July, and still no word from Disability other than to keep being patient. However, that doesn’t mean the bills stop coming. With only one working parent being her children’s father to provide for their household of five they had to pick and choose what bills were first priority and what could be put on the back burner for a little bit before having to pay them. They stopped paying for luxuries and cut down in a lot of expenses until they were stable again. However, bills keep coming monthly as they always did, and Cindy had to ask if people needed a babysitter or a house cleaner after finishing her chemo in order to try to help provide for her family during the struggling time, but this has not been enough and the bills keep getting behind as they struggle to choose which ones need to be paid the most.

And then reality hit harder.

A few weeks back she went in for some scans due to constant pain she could not shake. A few days later she got some not so good news that treatment did not work. The tumor was growing back as well as the bone next to her spine was not healing like it should’ve. This tumor is aggressive and relentless. It’s a terrible worry.

Earlier this week, she had CT guided sclerotherapy on the tumor in her neck to help with the pain and hopefully stimulate bone formation. It takes at least 4 weeks to know if the treatment will be effective. Depending on the images at that time, they will repeat this procedure or she’ll require another full spine surgery.

Due to the fact that they are financially struggling only two days after the surgery, Cindy has gone back to asking if anyone needs a babysitter or a house cleaner to help and provide and not risk for her family from getting further behind. She’s not supposed to be doing much of anything during this time, but they have to be able to survive somehow.

This journey has truly been one of the hardest things she has ever endured. In Cindy’s words, “I’m so grateful every day for the chance I have been given to still be here, to be a mom, to be a sister, to be a wife, to be a daughter, to be a friend.

Despite everything I am still a mom first. Being a parent with the health issues I have and having children of school age at the same time really has been challenging. My babies know exactly what is going on with their mama. They see too much pain and worry, even when I try to brush it off as temporary. My diagnosis has permanently changed my life forever, but being a mom has helped me keep things in perspective. I will live the rest of my life as a patient (the tumor can not be removed), but I take comfort in knowing that I do not travel this road alone.

Regardless of what happens with my treatment, I appreciate all the calls, texts, good vibes & prayers.”

Right now the doctors are trying to make Cindy as comfortable as possible with medication to help her live as long as possible without causing more issues.

My hope is to spread the word. If you can donate, share and send prayers/good vibes you’ve already done more than enough and we can’t thank you enough. If they are able to get enough to catch up and possibly ahead a lot of stress would be off their shoulders and they can then take the time to formulate a new plan of action while they wait to see if this new procedure does anything.