Monique Kuijer Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Most of you are following Monique's journey already and know what is going on but just a recap of the past….
Last November during a checkup Monique's CA125 level started to rise. Very small but it did raise an eyebrow and needed to be check on. During this time, she had many different types of scans from CT Scans to PET Scans to try and locate what was going on. After multiple failed attempts at a biopsy we finally did see that there was something going on and needed to start working on the next step. During the holiday season and right around her 30th birthday we were given the news we didn't want. We received news that the cancer has indeed come back and there were a few spots that had lit up on the scan. Her oncologist decided it was time to look at surgical means of locating the tumors and removing and also starting dose of a platinum chemotherapy drug that would have been heated and administered during the surgery. Now moving past the holiday season and into the new year we now were faced with WHEN???? The scheduling and insurance means were such a delay that was driving both of us literally mad. Finally getting the answer and date of the surgery we set off to meet our surgical oncologist. Feb 8 was the date and now we were set to prepare. HOW???? How do you prepare for something like this? We got to the hospital nervous as all hell and were greeted by the surgeon which seemed to calm Monique's nerves. And off she went for the second time.
During the surgery is when things got much worse. The doctor came out and greeted me to explain what was going on with her. He had said to me that Monique's cancer came back but in a way that made it extremely difficult for them to complete the surgery. She has many small size tumors that are only surface (not invading any organs), and small enough not to be seen on the scan, and while during the surgery the doctor was faced with many trouble areas that the tumors had been located in. Some of which that if the surgeon had gone after then it would have created a domino effect of problems that would have made Monique not have a very happy life at 30 years old. So the surgeons made the decision to stop the surgery and regroup and try and attempt more of a chemical warfare instead of causing her to lose some of the vital things that we as humans take for granted like using the restroom if you get where I am going. The first surgery was amazing from what the doctor said, "It was very well done" and he was very amazed on the condition the first surgery. Unfortunately, since they did such an amazing job the first time around the second surgery made it much harder since there was not much to work with. They were able to remove some of the tumors and some left over scar tissue that seemed to have helped Monique greatly from the previous surgery. So the oncologist is going to test the tissue that was removed to target specifically the type of chemotherapy that will be used. She is a candidate for some trials, but yet again we are faced with a long continuous battle. I will continue to update through Facebook and everything else. Everyone has been completely amazing through this entire process. I have met many amazing fighters out there giving support to meeting new friends and re engaging with old friends. I wished that this was over something completely different and not Monique, but thank you to all for the love and support. Truly shows that the power of love and kindness is the best medicine that a person could ask for. During this time please do not feel like reaching out to Monique is a bother. We may not be able to talk or see some people but seeing her in the wee hours of the morning reading through messages from everyone is amazing. Her smile is what drives me every day so as long as I have that I can continue this battle.
We have decided to activate the GoFundme again since a lot of people want to help Monique and also learn how all of this started to begin with. I have found that a lot of new friends and followers still aren’t aware of the first surgery that Monique encountered and I figured this would be a great place for them to see both stories and get future updates. So for now Monique is holding up well and healing from the world’s most expensive biopsy. The next step is chemotherapy and lots of rest. We still don’t have a definite game plan but will know in the next few weeks.
Last November during a checkup Monique's CA125 level started to rise. Very small but it did raise an eyebrow and needed to be check on. During this time, she had many different types of scans from CT Scans to PET Scans to try and locate what was going on. After multiple failed attempts at a biopsy we finally did see that there was something going on and needed to start working on the next step. During the holiday season and right around her 30th birthday we were given the news we didn't want. We received news that the cancer has indeed come back and there were a few spots that had lit up on the scan. Her oncologist decided it was time to look at surgical means of locating the tumors and removing and also starting dose of a platinum chemotherapy drug that would have been heated and administered during the surgery. Now moving past the holiday season and into the new year we now were faced with WHEN???? The scheduling and insurance means were such a delay that was driving both of us literally mad. Finally getting the answer and date of the surgery we set off to meet our surgical oncologist. Feb 8 was the date and now we were set to prepare. HOW???? How do you prepare for something like this? We got to the hospital nervous as all hell and were greeted by the surgeon which seemed to calm Monique's nerves. And off she went for the second time.
During the surgery is when things got much worse. The doctor came out and greeted me to explain what was going on with her. He had said to me that Monique's cancer came back but in a way that made it extremely difficult for them to complete the surgery. She has many small size tumors that are only surface (not invading any organs), and small enough not to be seen on the scan, and while during the surgery the doctor was faced with many trouble areas that the tumors had been located in. Some of which that if the surgeon had gone after then it would have created a domino effect of problems that would have made Monique not have a very happy life at 30 years old. So the surgeons made the decision to stop the surgery and regroup and try and attempt more of a chemical warfare instead of causing her to lose some of the vital things that we as humans take for granted like using the restroom if you get where I am going. The first surgery was amazing from what the doctor said, "It was very well done" and he was very amazed on the condition the first surgery. Unfortunately, since they did such an amazing job the first time around the second surgery made it much harder since there was not much to work with. They were able to remove some of the tumors and some left over scar tissue that seemed to have helped Monique greatly from the previous surgery. So the oncologist is going to test the tissue that was removed to target specifically the type of chemotherapy that will be used. She is a candidate for some trials, but yet again we are faced with a long continuous battle. I will continue to update through Facebook and everything else. Everyone has been completely amazing through this entire process. I have met many amazing fighters out there giving support to meeting new friends and re engaging with old friends. I wished that this was over something completely different and not Monique, but thank you to all for the love and support. Truly shows that the power of love and kindness is the best medicine that a person could ask for. During this time please do not feel like reaching out to Monique is a bother. We may not be able to talk or see some people but seeing her in the wee hours of the morning reading through messages from everyone is amazing. Her smile is what drives me every day so as long as I have that I can continue this battle.
We have decided to activate the GoFundme again since a lot of people want to help Monique and also learn how all of this started to begin with. I have found that a lot of new friends and followers still aren’t aware of the first surgery that Monique encountered and I figured this would be a great place for them to see both stories and get future updates. So for now Monique is holding up well and healing from the world’s most expensive biopsy. The next step is chemotherapy and lots of rest. We still don’t have a definite game plan but will know in the next few weeks.
Organizer
Gary Davis Jr.
Organizer
Irvine, CA
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