Akira's Cancer Battle

Akira Kriscunas-Bradley.. Where do I begin.. This girl is one in a million!  I have known Akira since the day she was born.  She is family to myself and my daughter.  My daughter and her grew up together, still best friends, cousins.. anything they could call themselves to show how close they were. 

Akira has recently been diagnosed with a rare cancer.  She had a common cold, possible pneumonia that did not get better.  Was admitted to the hospital when this tumor was found on a simple x-ray.  They are referencing the cancer as a Metastatic Lung Cancer, stage 4 due to the rarity and aggressiveness of the tumor.  The tumor is located in her chest cavity.  She has had multiple biopsies and lymph nodes removed in hopes of getting more answers on the cancer, as well as PET/CAT Scans.  With all of these tests, the answers are still unknown.. we do know no major organs are affected at this point, but still no answers on the expected outcome.  No answers whether this can be cured or not.  She is currently completing radiation 5 days a week and chemo 1 day a week.  She is set for a 13 week period of chemo to start.  Once completed, they will decide if additional chemo/radiation is needed.  They have also mentioned possibly starting immunotherapy once she completes the 13 weeks of chemo.   

For all of you that know Akira, you know she will and always has been there for everyone and anyone.  She is a loving, family oriented, very active and healthy girl.  Before Akira came down with this illness, she was active in her community teaching dance at Roxbury High School and also at a dance school in Hackettstown.  She was also dancing in NYC and working as a dancer for the NY Mets.  All of this came to an unexpected halt once she was diagnosed.  She was having trouble breathing, due to the tumor location.  She is a fighter, facing this illness with a smile and full of hopes.  Chemo and radiation are taking a toll on her, leaving her exhausted from these treatments. 

Akira has been very responsible at her young age of 23.  She has been taking care of all her bills on her own for many years already.  Her health insurance is not the best, but they are doing the best they can with what she has.  She is making individual payments for her doctor appointments, copays for therapy sessions, etc.  This is all on top of her daily expenses.  With Akira out of work right now and no extra funds available, we wanted to put this together to help ease the stress of this situation and allow her to focus on getting better.

I realize everyone has their own situations going on.  Even if you cannot assist financially, please continue to share this.  We thank you in advance.  Kiki you are a fighter, so keep fighting the battle.  You’ve got this!!