Medical Relief
Donation protected
I am a 28 year old lady with 2 kids Easton (2) and Isabella (9). I have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and have been told its a untreatable disease. Here is my story.
WOW! Its been a eventful 3 years. In December 2015 at age 26 I was diagnosed with Invasive Ducal Carcinoma, one week after that I discovered I was one week pregnant. At that time I was asked if I was going to keep the baby and if so, it was going to be a tough journey.
Because I wanted to keep the baby the doctors had to do the normal treatment a little different. They began with surgery for a double mastectomy in Febuary and in March I began 4 rounds (once a week for 4 weeks) of chemotherapy called A/C (Adriamycin&Cyclophosphamide) also know through out the patient community as the "Red Devil" and yes it was the chemotherapy everyone dreads. I lost my hair, got very sick, and sleep a lot. Don't forget, during this I was still pregnant and I continued to work full time to save money for the arrival for the baby. Luckily, I work for the best company in Salt Lake City called Hammerton that donated PTO and helped me in every way they could. I continued with 6 rounds (once a week for 6 weeks) of another chemotherapy called Taxol until my baby boy arrived on May 22, 2016. We named him Easton and surprisingly (considering he did chemo with his mom) he came out with a full head of hair and healthy. I finished treatment with 36 treatments of radiation and then begin to live a normal 28 year old's life.
Although Easton's dad and I split up and we went our separate ways. I moved to an apartment complex and he moved to his own house we continued to share Easton part time. I continued to raised Isabella full time and I continued to work for the same company, moving positions in the company, meeting a new group of friends, and becoming involved in my yoga studio. I was really living life to the fullest.
My back began to hurt and because I am very active I thought I had pulled a muscle. I went to the chiropractor and received a few massages and thought that i had hurt my back in yoga. In May I took Isabella to Zions with some friends for a camping trip and the entire time I complained about my back which had been hurting for months now. It was now hurting in my ribs so, when we got back to Salt Lake City Isabella and I went to the University Urgent Care. They took X-rays and when they came back they explained that I had cancer through out my spine. The tumors were so bad my ribs were cracking because they were trying to hold up my spine. Isabella's cousin came and got her and I was transferred to the Huntsman Hospital where I stayed in the hospital to receive Radiation on my spine and to get my pain under control.
I was in the worst pain of my life and because the radiations was down my spine hitting my stomach I was sicker than I have been in my entire life. I stayed in bed for weeks only getting up to vomit. The doctors said that I now have stage 4 breast cancer. It was now spread to my bones (bone cancer) and it is untreatable. They stated most people live a "few" years. I will doing hormone therapy to try to stop the growth of the cancer (the cancer feeds off ). As of now I am currently doing the treatments. I get shots to put me in menopause and because I am only 28 my hormones are raging and this is very hard on me. I continue to be in constant pain because the tumors are though out my body, starting from my feet and ending in my head.
At times I think how sad this situation is. 28 year old possibly dying in a "few" years leaving 2 kids behind. Not married, not knowing what true love is. Thinking about the pain all this is going to cause people but I quickly snap out of it. I started yoga again and I continue to work for the same great company and they again have been donating PTO but, this will eventually stop considering its a small company. I have almost used all that has been given and I still have many doctor appointments a week and miss work due to not feeling well. That being said, because I have a long road ahead of me any donations help. I will use this money to save for the future when I can no longer work and it will go to my insurance detectable
. I cant thank you enough for any donations made
WOW! Its been a eventful 3 years. In December 2015 at age 26 I was diagnosed with Invasive Ducal Carcinoma, one week after that I discovered I was one week pregnant. At that time I was asked if I was going to keep the baby and if so, it was going to be a tough journey.
Because I wanted to keep the baby the doctors had to do the normal treatment a little different. They began with surgery for a double mastectomy in Febuary and in March I began 4 rounds (once a week for 4 weeks) of chemotherapy called A/C (Adriamycin&Cyclophosphamide) also know through out the patient community as the "Red Devil" and yes it was the chemotherapy everyone dreads. I lost my hair, got very sick, and sleep a lot. Don't forget, during this I was still pregnant and I continued to work full time to save money for the arrival for the baby. Luckily, I work for the best company in Salt Lake City called Hammerton that donated PTO and helped me in every way they could. I continued with 6 rounds (once a week for 6 weeks) of another chemotherapy called Taxol until my baby boy arrived on May 22, 2016. We named him Easton and surprisingly (considering he did chemo with his mom) he came out with a full head of hair and healthy. I finished treatment with 36 treatments of radiation and then begin to live a normal 28 year old's life.
Although Easton's dad and I split up and we went our separate ways. I moved to an apartment complex and he moved to his own house we continued to share Easton part time. I continued to raised Isabella full time and I continued to work for the same company, moving positions in the company, meeting a new group of friends, and becoming involved in my yoga studio. I was really living life to the fullest.
My back began to hurt and because I am very active I thought I had pulled a muscle. I went to the chiropractor and received a few massages and thought that i had hurt my back in yoga. In May I took Isabella to Zions with some friends for a camping trip and the entire time I complained about my back which had been hurting for months now. It was now hurting in my ribs so, when we got back to Salt Lake City Isabella and I went to the University Urgent Care. They took X-rays and when they came back they explained that I had cancer through out my spine. The tumors were so bad my ribs were cracking because they were trying to hold up my spine. Isabella's cousin came and got her and I was transferred to the Huntsman Hospital where I stayed in the hospital to receive Radiation on my spine and to get my pain under control.
I was in the worst pain of my life and because the radiations was down my spine hitting my stomach I was sicker than I have been in my entire life. I stayed in bed for weeks only getting up to vomit. The doctors said that I now have stage 4 breast cancer. It was now spread to my bones (bone cancer) and it is untreatable. They stated most people live a "few" years. I will doing hormone therapy to try to stop the growth of the cancer (the cancer feeds off ). As of now I am currently doing the treatments. I get shots to put me in menopause and because I am only 28 my hormones are raging and this is very hard on me. I continue to be in constant pain because the tumors are though out my body, starting from my feet and ending in my head.
At times I think how sad this situation is. 28 year old possibly dying in a "few" years leaving 2 kids behind. Not married, not knowing what true love is. Thinking about the pain all this is going to cause people but I quickly snap out of it. I started yoga again and I continue to work for the same great company and they again have been donating PTO but, this will eventually stop considering its a small company. I have almost used all that has been given and I still have many doctor appointments a week and miss work due to not feeling well. That being said, because I have a long road ahead of me any donations help. I will use this money to save for the future when I can no longer work and it will go to my insurance detectable
. I cant thank you enough for any donations madeOrganizer
Kelsey Couture-Blakeman
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT