Alanna's journey with metastasized thyroid cancer

Hi everyone! My name is Sydney Gifford. My younger sister, Alanna, is 19 years old and has been diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, that means that it has already spread into the lymph nodes.

Alanna finished her first year at U of MN Duluth and around the time of finals, she found a swollen lymph node in her neck. In addition to a rough winter of seeming to be constantly sick, she wasn’t feeling herself. After a few trips to the doctor to assess the swollen lymph node and her symptoms, an ultrasound discovered that the lymph node was abnormal. The biopsy came back on July 27 with high suspicion of metastasized thyroid cancer.

Alanna headed down to the Mayo Clinic, with me and our mom on August 1. She has been through so many tests and appointments already in these few weeks. Alanna has surgery scheduled for August 28th to remove the thyroid and all 300 lymph nodes in her neck because it has already spread to both sides. After the surgery, it is most likely that she will undergo some type of radiation since the spread is so significant. Once the pathology comes back to confirm the type of thyroid cancer and stage they will asses the next steps.

All of her appointments, tests, surgeries, and future treatments are incredibly expensive and medical insurance not only has a high deductible but also doesn’t cover Mayo Clinic expenses at 100%. In addition to medical expenses that aren’t covered, Alanna has had to quit her job as a waitress at Willy’s On The Water for all the tests, appointments, surgery, recovery and treatment. Things like Alanna’s car payments, insurance and other bills still need to be paid on top of her medical expenses.

Any support you can give Alanna along the way would be so very much appreciated. Any amount and every prayer means the world to Alanna.

Please follow Alanna’s journey as she fights to beat this cancer www.CaringBridge.org/visit/alannagifford

With thanks and love,

Sydney