A Story of Hope for Kassidy
Donation protected
My name is Tammy Heath Pierson (aka TK Dunn...if you know me by my entertainment moniker).
My youngest daughter, Kassidy, was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma in January of 2015.
Since then we removed the tumor in her left leg and some lymph nodes in the surrounding area. All scans remained clear for a little over a year.
In April of 2016 he found a spot on her right lung. We removed more lymph nodes to see if that was an indicator that the lung may be of concern. The lymph nodes did not show any cancer, but in a follow up CT scan the nodule in her lung had nearly doubled in volume in two short months. Surgery was done two days later on July 1st, 2016 and 40% of her right lung was removed.
The good news was that 4 days later she was deemed NED (No Evidence of Disease). We were elated! But we also knew we had to start some preventative treatments and that's when we started looking at clinical trials.
But the bad news was...we were now in Stage 4.
The recovery from lung surgery was still ongoing when Kassidy developed an injury to her right groin area - diagnosed by her regular doctor as a pulled muscle. When we returned to the oncologist for her 4 week post-op checkup...the terrible truth was revealed in her PET scan - the cancer had spread throughout her entire body. Both armpit lymph node areas; both groin lymph node areas; more in her right lung; some in her abdomen; and some on the outer skin of her right leg. Seven locations with multiple tumors.
We are now in a place of having to quickly decide on treatments, where they will be done and how do we as a family help to support her through all this.
The insurance has been reluctant to continue with the PET scans in a timely fashion and if we are to utlilize them as our best bet to keep on top of the cancer...each time we need to do one - it will be $8,000 out-of-pocket.
Her physician's are not even sure insurance will cover one at a two month benchmark...but with how rapidly this is spreading - we really need one done at the one month mark from this date.
We are trying to prepare for at least 4 PET scans ($32,000) for the coming months and then travel expenses and other living expenses to help off-set Kassidy's inability to work at this time.
Other costs are quickly rising in the supportive areas to Kassidy's treatment...and we have no idea what will work - or not...and where we may have to shift her to next.
We are considering treatments at Mayo, Dana-Farber, John Hopkins and others.
Advanced Melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers out there. Unfortunately few strides have been made in this area unlike Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and others which have found reasonable treatments.
Even with hype around new Immunotherapies...it is still too early to determine the effectiveness and longevity of these drugs.
We are throwing out the Hail Mary pass to whatever we think will give her the best chance of survival.
Kassidy has the most amazing fortitude and grace in facing this. She is determined to raise her son. She wants to go on to be an EMT...and then a paramedic.
She is always thinking of others and doing for others.
Kassidy's world revolves around Chris and Hunter.
They need more time with this amazing partner and Mother.
You are our HOPE!
You are the ones we are reaching out to in looking to extend Kassidy's time with us...hopefully for a very long time.
Kassidy needs you...
Her son Hunter needs you...
Chris needs you...
I need you.
Her siblings - Lyndee, Kaleb, Kasey and Kady need you.
We welcome donations, sharing of this page and any prayers you have for Kassidy.
Every...single...dollar...truly helps at this point.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read her story.
My youngest daughter, Kassidy, was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma in January of 2015.
Since then we removed the tumor in her left leg and some lymph nodes in the surrounding area. All scans remained clear for a little over a year.
In April of 2016 he found a spot on her right lung. We removed more lymph nodes to see if that was an indicator that the lung may be of concern. The lymph nodes did not show any cancer, but in a follow up CT scan the nodule in her lung had nearly doubled in volume in two short months. Surgery was done two days later on July 1st, 2016 and 40% of her right lung was removed.
The good news was that 4 days later she was deemed NED (No Evidence of Disease). We were elated! But we also knew we had to start some preventative treatments and that's when we started looking at clinical trials.
But the bad news was...we were now in Stage 4.
The recovery from lung surgery was still ongoing when Kassidy developed an injury to her right groin area - diagnosed by her regular doctor as a pulled muscle. When we returned to the oncologist for her 4 week post-op checkup...the terrible truth was revealed in her PET scan - the cancer had spread throughout her entire body. Both armpit lymph node areas; both groin lymph node areas; more in her right lung; some in her abdomen; and some on the outer skin of her right leg. Seven locations with multiple tumors.
We are now in a place of having to quickly decide on treatments, where they will be done and how do we as a family help to support her through all this.
The insurance has been reluctant to continue with the PET scans in a timely fashion and if we are to utlilize them as our best bet to keep on top of the cancer...each time we need to do one - it will be $8,000 out-of-pocket.
Her physician's are not even sure insurance will cover one at a two month benchmark...but with how rapidly this is spreading - we really need one done at the one month mark from this date.
We are trying to prepare for at least 4 PET scans ($32,000) for the coming months and then travel expenses and other living expenses to help off-set Kassidy's inability to work at this time.
Other costs are quickly rising in the supportive areas to Kassidy's treatment...and we have no idea what will work - or not...and where we may have to shift her to next.
We are considering treatments at Mayo, Dana-Farber, John Hopkins and others.
Advanced Melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers out there. Unfortunately few strides have been made in this area unlike Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and others which have found reasonable treatments.
Even with hype around new Immunotherapies...it is still too early to determine the effectiveness and longevity of these drugs.
We are throwing out the Hail Mary pass to whatever we think will give her the best chance of survival.
Kassidy has the most amazing fortitude and grace in facing this. She is determined to raise her son. She wants to go on to be an EMT...and then a paramedic.
She is always thinking of others and doing for others.
Kassidy's world revolves around Chris and Hunter.
They need more time with this amazing partner and Mother.
You are our HOPE!
You are the ones we are reaching out to in looking to extend Kassidy's time with us...hopefully for a very long time.
Kassidy needs you...
Her son Hunter needs you...
Chris needs you...
I need you.
Her siblings - Lyndee, Kaleb, Kasey and Kady need you.
We welcome donations, sharing of this page and any prayers you have for Kassidy.
Every...single...dollar...truly helps at this point.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read her story.
Organizer
TK Dunn
Organizer
Lakeville, MN