Alycia Smith (Vondrasek) Rare Cancer Fund
Donation protected
It’s been an interesting couple of years for Alycia to say the least.
In the summer of 2019 Alycia noticed small changes happening, and by winter they were causing medical problems. When a bout of pneumonia took two rounds of steroids to knock out she knew something was wrong. After many tests, scans and doctors appointments it was determined she had a rare type of cancer called Adrenocortical Carcinoma.
On average roughly 600 people per year are diagnosed globally with this cancer. Due to how rare and aggressive this disease is, little is known in terms of being able to defeat it, so the patient is often subjected to multiple overlapping strong forms of Chemotherapy to attempt to kill it off. What makes her case rarer than most is that the cancer triggered a second disease called Cushing’s Syndrome.
Cushing's Syndrome has many side effects such as excess cortisol production, which in turn causes various hormonal imbalances. In order to treat the cancer Alycia has to deal with a body that needs to fight a disease while trying to balance a separate disease that makes it hard to heal. In other words every day can be different, as can be the challenges.
Almost all of Alycia’s life has been dedicated to helping and taking care of others. Her first 7 years of employment were spent working in group homes, helping those who needed daily assistance to live on their own. More recently she has worked as a home aide caring for the elderly and those with dementia. She had to give up her work though due to the growing Pandemic, and the risk of getting sick while seeking treatment for her diseases.
One of the last few people she was able to take care of was her grandmother Barb Barror, who suffered a severe stroke a couple years back. Alycia was able to take care of her grandmother until she ultimately passed this last fall, before Alycia’s treatments began.
Alycia’s first form of any kind of major treatment was the removal of the cancerous tumor. Doctors at U of M removed the basketball sized tumor September 22nd. However that was only the beginning. Her first hospital stay led to contracting C-Diff, a type of intestinal infection. She has had two more infections since, both of which put her back into the emergency room. Her last infection, which occurred the day after Christmas, put her into septic shock after her blood pressure dropped to 70/40.
To date she has two rounds of Chemo under her belt, and because of various reactions to treatment and infections, she is now taking six daily medications. This includes a new drug she will take for a minimum of two years, Mitotane. Just last week Alycia had a three month scan done to see how things were looking. She unfortunately received news that a new spot has been found in her left lung, which could mean that the cancer has progressed to Stage IV.
All of this treatment has taken a financial toll on Alycia and her husband Erik. She has been successful in being approved for short term disability, however, there is a six month wait for her to receive any kind of assistance and it will not be retroactive. Right now her medication co-pays are costing over $200 a month. On top of that, it is not even the end of January and their out of pocket deductible has already been met. Money is so tight for them right now that she cannot even afford wigs for post Chemo treatment. Erik has also lost income as there were many times this past year where unexpected appointments, scans, or trips to the hospital made it necessary for him to be with Alycia. Because of the many trips to various medical facilities, and the restrictions put in place because of the pandemic, travel and lodging expenses have also been extensive.
Unfortunately she knew all too well what to expect from chemotherapy and radiation treatments as she was there for her mom, Rebecca, who suffered from two bouts of Breast cancer and ultimately passed away three years ago. Now Alycia is the one who needs our help.
Anyone who knows Alycia knows she always has a smile on her face, and she continues to do so. While news at various times has been shocking, and hard to deal with, she takes a deep breath and says the same thing. “Let’s do this.” Alycia is handling this as well, and with as much grace, as her mom and grandma did before her by dotting the T’s and crossing the I’s, Crossing that Horse when she comes to it, and knowing the “L” is for Love.
If you can help Alycia with her battle we would be more than grateful. If you can share this far and wide that would be appreciated as well. Thank you all for the care and concern.
In the summer of 2019 Alycia noticed small changes happening, and by winter they were causing medical problems. When a bout of pneumonia took two rounds of steroids to knock out she knew something was wrong. After many tests, scans and doctors appointments it was determined she had a rare type of cancer called Adrenocortical Carcinoma.
On average roughly 600 people per year are diagnosed globally with this cancer. Due to how rare and aggressive this disease is, little is known in terms of being able to defeat it, so the patient is often subjected to multiple overlapping strong forms of Chemotherapy to attempt to kill it off. What makes her case rarer than most is that the cancer triggered a second disease called Cushing’s Syndrome.
Cushing's Syndrome has many side effects such as excess cortisol production, which in turn causes various hormonal imbalances. In order to treat the cancer Alycia has to deal with a body that needs to fight a disease while trying to balance a separate disease that makes it hard to heal. In other words every day can be different, as can be the challenges.
Almost all of Alycia’s life has been dedicated to helping and taking care of others. Her first 7 years of employment were spent working in group homes, helping those who needed daily assistance to live on their own. More recently she has worked as a home aide caring for the elderly and those with dementia. She had to give up her work though due to the growing Pandemic, and the risk of getting sick while seeking treatment for her diseases.
One of the last few people she was able to take care of was her grandmother Barb Barror, who suffered a severe stroke a couple years back. Alycia was able to take care of her grandmother until she ultimately passed this last fall, before Alycia’s treatments began.
Alycia’s first form of any kind of major treatment was the removal of the cancerous tumor. Doctors at U of M removed the basketball sized tumor September 22nd. However that was only the beginning. Her first hospital stay led to contracting C-Diff, a type of intestinal infection. She has had two more infections since, both of which put her back into the emergency room. Her last infection, which occurred the day after Christmas, put her into septic shock after her blood pressure dropped to 70/40.
To date she has two rounds of Chemo under her belt, and because of various reactions to treatment and infections, she is now taking six daily medications. This includes a new drug she will take for a minimum of two years, Mitotane. Just last week Alycia had a three month scan done to see how things were looking. She unfortunately received news that a new spot has been found in her left lung, which could mean that the cancer has progressed to Stage IV.
All of this treatment has taken a financial toll on Alycia and her husband Erik. She has been successful in being approved for short term disability, however, there is a six month wait for her to receive any kind of assistance and it will not be retroactive. Right now her medication co-pays are costing over $200 a month. On top of that, it is not even the end of January and their out of pocket deductible has already been met. Money is so tight for them right now that she cannot even afford wigs for post Chemo treatment. Erik has also lost income as there were many times this past year where unexpected appointments, scans, or trips to the hospital made it necessary for him to be with Alycia. Because of the many trips to various medical facilities, and the restrictions put in place because of the pandemic, travel and lodging expenses have also been extensive.
Unfortunately she knew all too well what to expect from chemotherapy and radiation treatments as she was there for her mom, Rebecca, who suffered from two bouts of Breast cancer and ultimately passed away three years ago. Now Alycia is the one who needs our help.
Anyone who knows Alycia knows she always has a smile on her face, and she continues to do so. While news at various times has been shocking, and hard to deal with, she takes a deep breath and says the same thing. “Let’s do this.” Alycia is handling this as well, and with as much grace, as her mom and grandma did before her by dotting the T’s and crossing the I’s, Crossing that Horse when she comes to it, and knowing the “L” is for Love.
If you can help Alycia with her battle we would be more than grateful. If you can share this far and wide that would be appreciated as well. Thank you all for the care and concern.
Co-organizers (3)
Alec Vondrasek
Organizer
Chesaning, MI
Alycia Smith
Beneficiary
Todd Vondrasek
Co-organizer
Todd Vondrasek
Co-organizer