Abigail’s Battle with Stage III Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

On May 30, 2021, I woke up with an extremely tight chest and intense shortness of breath that would not subside even with rest, which led me to an Urgent Care Center, and later that night, the Emergency Room. A chest X-ray and CT Scan confirmed a large mass in my mediastinum.

After weeks of doctor visits, scans, biopsies and surgeries, I heard the phrase that none of us ever want to hear - it’s cancer. Stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma was confirmed after a surgical biopsy and a PET Scan finding of two smaller spots in my right supra clavicle and left pelvis, in addition to the large mass in my chest. Because the lymphatic system is a network throughout the body, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma can appear in several parts of the body at the same time.

My husband, Josh, our two young children, Sienna (4) and Levi (1), and I are now gearing up for six months of chemotherapy.

Your donation, no matter how modest, will help Josh and I navigate the difficult journey ahead, so that we can focus on the important job of kicking this cancer’s ass and worry less about the financial stress that sadly accompanies such a diagnosis.

Despite being insured, we are still responsible for 20% coinsurance with a $10,000 family out-of-pocket maximum, before United Healthcare will cover any medical expenses at 100%. Any and all donations will be used to cover my recent medical expenses, such as the costs of prior scans, biopsies, and surgeries, the upcoming 6 months of chemotherapy, future scans, prescription costs, transportation, and specialist/hospital copays.

Other Ways to Donate

Cash App: $abigailxhernandez

Venmo: @abigailxhernandez

If the ability to financially help is not currently available to you, sharing this Go Fund Me page is greatly appreciated and prayers are welcomed.

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Abigail’s Transparency Timeline (so far):

5/30/2021: Urgent Care Visit with Chest X-Ray, which led to an Emergency Room Visit to have a CT Scan done.

6/1/2021: Met with Primary Care Physician, who provided a list of recommended Oncologists.

6/3/2021: Met with Oncologist who works within the Atlantic Health System, and explained that he suspected Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after reviewing my scans with an Interventional Radiologist and a Thoracic Surgeon.

6/4/2021: CT-Guided Biopsy at Overlook Medical Center, with Sedation and Pathologist present.

6/9/2021: Met with Thoracic Surgeon at Morristown Medical Center to schedule a surgical biopsy.

6/11/2021: Our son, Levi, underwent a surgery to remove a dermoid cyst from his right eyebrow.

6/12/2021: Anterior Mediastinotomy Surgical Biopsy at Morristown Medical Center with the Chief of Thoracic Surgery, under General Anesthesia and Pathologist present.

6/21/2021: Followup Visit with Oncologist, who officially diagnosed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, discussed upcoming possible treatment, and asked that I schedule additional tests, such as a Pulmonary Function Test, Echocardiogram, and PET Scan, in preparation for Chemotherapy. He also requested that I schedule another surgery for a portacath insertion where the chemotherapy will be administered.

6/24/2021: Pulmonary Function Test at Overlook Medical Center.

6/25/2021: PET Scan and Echocardiogram at Overlook Medical Center.

6/28/2021: Portacath Insertion Surgery at Overlook Medical Center, under General Anesthesia.

6/30/2021: Followup Visit with Oncologist to confirm that it is Stage III Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, discussed changes in upcoming chemotherapy treatment due to the cancer being considered advanced, and went over the results from the recent tests done at Overlook Medical Center on 6/24 and 6/25.

7/9/2021: My first day of Chemotherapy.

** I am expected to receive chemotherapy every other Friday (twice a month) for the next 6 months, totaling 12 chemotherapy sessions. I will receive another PET Scan after 2 months of Chemotherapy to see how my body is responding to and killing the cancer. **

((Please check back for major updates))