Tonya's Breast Cancer Medical Fund

Hi, my name is Tonya. I'm 45, married, and almost always smiling. Even through the tough and trying times, like when I found a lump in my breast. Who knew something so small could and would, change life in such a big way! When you find a lump in your breast, the last words you hope to hear after a biopsy is, "You have cancer." What's more? Is that it's a rare, aggressive form of cancer. In April of this year, that is exactly what happened. Despite the fact that this breast lump had all of the, stereotypical, characteristics of a benign fibrodenoma. It had us all fooled. Even the Doctor! When the pathology report came back a couple of days after surgery, I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer called, Metaplastic Breast Cancer. Not exactly the news I'd hoped & prayed for. But, I put on my big girl panties, my combat boots, and readied myself for the fight of my life. After recovering from a partial mastectomy, I was scheduled for a minor surgery to have a port installed so I could begin chemotherapy, and start on my road to recovery & survivorship. I awoke from that surgery intubated in the ICU, with cancer treatment suddenly taking a back seat, to cardiac & respitory distress. You see, While attempting to install the port, my jugular vein was punctured, and my right lung collapsed. It seemed the fight just got harder, and I suddenly felt ganged-up on. I asked myself "Whatever happened to a one-on-one in a fight?"Always trying to keep my sense of humor and a smile on my face. After two weeks in the ICU and several weeks of doctor's visits for xrays, draining the lung, and to get to a place of decent health ... I am now able to forge ahead in my battle with breast cancer. On August 6th, I began chemotherapy. And, I'm thankful to be alive to fight for my life. All of this however, is really putting a financial strain on myself (since I lost my job) and my hardworking husband, who has had to take a lot of time off of work because of my health issues. We have a very high insurance deductible and the medical bills are begininning to get ahead of us. Also, we live in a rural area where treatment for a condition like this requires traveling. It is an eight hour round trip to the University hospital for the care I have received, and will continue to receive. We aren't accustomed to needing or asking for assistance, but I guess there are times when we all have to step out of our comfort zones and reach out for a helping hand. Any and all help (prayers included) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you & God Bless.