Alex Miller's Fighting Fund
Donation protected
My name is Kym Strange. I met my best friend, Alex, when we were both four years old. Alexandra Miller, now 27, is an incredibly intelligent, kind, creative, compassionate, motivated, accomplished, powerful, understanding, funny, gentle and generous woman who has touched hundreds of lives. Oh, and she also happens to be a Theoretical Physics PhD student at UC Santa Barbara. (I know, right?!)
Like most people, the holidays last year brought a lot of joy and laughter and gratitude; but unfortunately, that wasn't all Alex received. In Decemeber 2015, Alex noticed a curious lump on her neck, and soon after, another one near her collar bone. Shortly after New Years, she went to get them looked at and after many tests, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.
Of course, this came as a blow to her and all of her family and friends. "How could this happen? She's so healthy!" "What does this mean?" "What do we do now?"
In true Alex fashion, she instantly put on a brave face and reassured US that everything would be okay. Her attitude immediately was, "Okay, this is my reality, where do we start? Lets do this!"
Her doctors have been wonderful, thank goodness, and have offered so much comfort and knowledge in this process. Her oncologist discussed many options with her and her family, but they all agreed that chemotherapy would be the best treatment to fight with. One of the scariest parts of chemo, for Alex, was the risk of infertility post-treatment. Alex has always dreamed of being a mother, and the fear of losing that ability did not sit well with her. Our warrior girl took this into her own hands and tracked down a fertility doctor in her area that could help. Despite the cost (since insurance does not cover this) and hormone injections, Alex made the brave and courageous decision to have an egg retrevial procedure and freeze her eggs for future use in the small chance that she cannot conceive after cancer.
This process has been difficult and arduous (lots of appointments and multiple daily injections and of course the intense emotions that come along with this kind of decision). But her oncologist has been extremely supportive and has even allowed the postponing of her (very important and time sensitive) PET scan until after her egg retrieval process is complete, which is scheduled to happen Friday, February 12th.
Then, her PET scan will allow them to determine what stage her cancer is at, and in turn, how agressive her chemo treatment will need to be. She receieved a portacath this morning which is a semi-permanent intravenous cathader. This will help with her treatments and keep her from having to be poked and prodded with needles. Her treatment, scheduled to start next week (mid-Feb), will last around 4-6 months.
Like her doctors, Alex's friends and family support has been incredible. Her peers at Santa Barbara have been amazing and like all of us, believe in her fast and safe recovery. Fortunately, Alex DOES have medical insurance, but as we all know, this only covers a percentage of the cancer treatment cost, not the whole thing, and unfortunatly, NONE of the fertility costs.
If you're anything like me, I was a little numb and scared at first, and struggled with what to do for her and her family. "What do I say?" "How can I help?" Well, this is how!
All donations made to will go directly to Alex to help with medical bills, fertility treatment, and general living expenses. Please give what you can, and know that even $5.00 will be received with the upmost gratitude and deepest appreciation.
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars."- Martin Luther King Jr.
Like most people, the holidays last year brought a lot of joy and laughter and gratitude; but unfortunately, that wasn't all Alex received. In Decemeber 2015, Alex noticed a curious lump on her neck, and soon after, another one near her collar bone. Shortly after New Years, she went to get them looked at and after many tests, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.
Of course, this came as a blow to her and all of her family and friends. "How could this happen? She's so healthy!" "What does this mean?" "What do we do now?"
In true Alex fashion, she instantly put on a brave face and reassured US that everything would be okay. Her attitude immediately was, "Okay, this is my reality, where do we start? Lets do this!"
Her doctors have been wonderful, thank goodness, and have offered so much comfort and knowledge in this process. Her oncologist discussed many options with her and her family, but they all agreed that chemotherapy would be the best treatment to fight with. One of the scariest parts of chemo, for Alex, was the risk of infertility post-treatment. Alex has always dreamed of being a mother, and the fear of losing that ability did not sit well with her. Our warrior girl took this into her own hands and tracked down a fertility doctor in her area that could help. Despite the cost (since insurance does not cover this) and hormone injections, Alex made the brave and courageous decision to have an egg retrevial procedure and freeze her eggs for future use in the small chance that she cannot conceive after cancer.
This process has been difficult and arduous (lots of appointments and multiple daily injections and of course the intense emotions that come along with this kind of decision). But her oncologist has been extremely supportive and has even allowed the postponing of her (very important and time sensitive) PET scan until after her egg retrieval process is complete, which is scheduled to happen Friday, February 12th.
Then, her PET scan will allow them to determine what stage her cancer is at, and in turn, how agressive her chemo treatment will need to be. She receieved a portacath this morning which is a semi-permanent intravenous cathader. This will help with her treatments and keep her from having to be poked and prodded with needles. Her treatment, scheduled to start next week (mid-Feb), will last around 4-6 months.
Like her doctors, Alex's friends and family support has been incredible. Her peers at Santa Barbara have been amazing and like all of us, believe in her fast and safe recovery. Fortunately, Alex DOES have medical insurance, but as we all know, this only covers a percentage of the cancer treatment cost, not the whole thing, and unfortunatly, NONE of the fertility costs.
If you're anything like me, I was a little numb and scared at first, and struggled with what to do for her and her family. "What do I say?" "How can I help?" Well, this is how!
All donations made to will go directly to Alex to help with medical bills, fertility treatment, and general living expenses. Please give what you can, and know that even $5.00 will be received with the upmost gratitude and deepest appreciation.
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars."- Martin Luther King Jr.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kym Strange
Organizer
Vacaville, CA
Alex Miller
Beneficiary