Amanda Mendez's cancer diagnosis

Amanda Mendez's medical story over the past year has been an arduous and complicating one. She's been out of work on and off for almost a full year now with no clear return-to-work date yet, so this GoFundMe is to please ask for help donating to help with her medical and non-medical bills until she can get back on her feet.

Back in January of 2022 she had to undergo an extensive surgery to remove a volleyball-sized tumor from her uterus, part of her intestine, and her appendix. The tumor was so large, it was smashing other organs inside of her, so a partial hysterectomy was performed to hopefully rid of these invasive tissues. A biopsy was taken of these tissues, which at the time determined them to be benign (non-cancerous), and that after her recovery she should attend physical therapy to strengthen her core again. 

Fast-forward to April of 2022 and she's given a post-op checkup with a CT scan to discover the tumor has returned, but in a different location. The doctors wait two months to see if it's going to continue growing or not to determine their next course of action. In June of 2022 they determined it's growing very aggressively and that surgery is needed again to remove it. 

July of 2022 she undergoes a second surgery to remove the tumor when doctors discover two additional ones besides the one that appeared in the CT scan! Three tumors were removed from her that month: one the size of a grapefruit, one the size of a mango seed, and the last the size of a cherry pit. They break the news to her post-surgery that although they removed those three successfully, they can still see dozens of smaller tumors dotted throughout her body, which they're unable to remove. They biopsy this new tissue, which comes back as malignant (cancerous). 

Months pass and experts can't determine exactly which type of cancer she has- only that it appears to be growing aggressively. Between Cleveland Clinic and two different independent third-party labs, they conclude that she has a rare form of stage 3c sarcoma. To put it simply, most cancers everyone is familiar with effect the actual organ itself (lung, liver, colon, etc.) whereas sarcomas affect everything else that keeps it together (connective tissue, red blood cells, fat cells, tendons, etc). These are more difficult to diagnose and treat, given their rarity. 

Doctors advise chemotherapy is the best course of action, which for now she'll have to do 6 rounds of chemo over the next 18 weeks. She's being given two different types of chemotherapy drugs, and is still expected to be off of work for several months while she recovers. Many of you may even have gone through chemotherapy yourself or have loved ones who have, and can understand the drastic effect it can have on the body. 

Please. This GoFundMe is being put together to help her out financially while her future remains uncertain over the course of these next few months. If you've ever enjoyed a conversation with her- please consider donating. If you've ever enjoyed any of her food at a work potluck or party- please consider donating. If you've ever hung out with her outside of work and had a great time- please consider donating. If she's ever supported you or someone you know by sharing small business information, attending an event for you or a friend, or even donated financially - please consider donating.

If you're unable to donate, please share this story! Boost the support! We're all very uncertain on how the future is looking right now with this rare diagnosis, and how her body will be able to handle the chemotherapy treatment. Anything, and I truly mean ANYTHING helps! 

Her kids and grandkids thank you all so much for your time, and hope you'll consider donating!