Ignite Hope: Fuel Angelica’s Cancer Battle!

+++ URGENT UPDATE BELOW! Skip past Angelica's initial post for fresh photos and a must-see video from our son, Michelangelo!"+++

My name is Jorge, and last November, two weeks after her birthday, the love of my life and proud mother of our 17-year-old son was diagnosed with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma.

In just three days, what was supposed to be a routine biopsy led doctors to discover Stage 4 cancer. It had metastasized to Angelica’s lungs, one of which has since come close to shutting down. I can hardly express how crushing this is for our little family. Our son, Michelangelo, has been a ray of light. I don’t know that I could get through this without him.

Despite being a non-smoker, Angelica is facing aggressive lung complications. This includes trouble breathing, pneumonia, coughing up blood, and nose bleeds. She also had 70 percent of her lung tumors removed, and as of April this year, her oncologists decided it was best to move forward with targeted treatments instead of radioactive iodine therapy.

Angelica’s current cancer medication/prescription, LENVIMA, costs $20,000 a month, yet is only a fraction of her rising medical expenses. Health insurance covers 60% of the costs, but we’re falling behind on our ability to make ends meet fast. Despite potential heart problems, arterial blood clots, liver problems, kidney problems, thyroid hormone imbalance, exacerbation of her existing hypertension, and more, LENVIMA gives Angelica a chance to put cancer behind her. It’s a vital prescription.

We desperately need help to sustain Angelica’s treatment. For friends and family members that have been asking how to assist or anyone that comes across our campaign, anything you’re able to give keeps us going a little longer.

From Angelica:

“What helps me is to stay focused on being positive and praying every day plus the family, relatives, and friends support and prayers. I am so blessed and so thankful to my husband and my son for keeping me grounded and thankful for the unconditional support and love in this time of my journey.”

Angelica’s dream is to ring the bell. Michelangelo and I can’t wait for the day it happens.

We appreciate every dollar donated and every share that gets our story out to more people. If there’s even one person in your network who might be able to lend a hand, please send them the link below:

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UPDATE ON ANGELICA'S CONDITION 10/08/23 @ 9:59AM

Hey there, everyone. If you've been following along with our updates since our last post on August 15, 2021, you'll know it's been quite a rollercoaster. We're reaching out again, with urgency but also with heartfelt appreciation for the love and care you've all shown.

Back in November 2020, Angelica was diagnosed with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma. It spread, reaching her lungs. She bravely underwent a Bronchoscopy, Neck Biopsy, and in April 2021, had a full Thyroidectomy. For two and a half years, Angelica has battled with Targeted Therapy. It was putting the brakes on the tumor growth – but, man, those side effects were rough on her.

Given the wear and tear of these treatments, her Oncologist pointed towards a promising direction: clinical trials. She was all set to start on August 27, 2023. But as is often the case with life, there was a curveball.

On the morning of August 17, 2023, Angelica woke up with more than just a headache. The back of her neck was aching with such intensity that even Tylenol couldn't touch it. By evening, after her shower, the pain was so unbearable that every little motion felt like torture. Her pain scaled a resounding 20 out of 10. It took both my help and my son Michelangelo and the strength of paramedics to get her to the Emergency Dept and fast.

Angelica had to make a sudden trip to the ER because of some intense neck and head pain. Crazy thing is, we had no clue then it was due to a cancerous spot on her C2 & C3 vertebrae.

The two photos above show Angelica bedridden again, as doctors try to pinpoint what's causing her intense headaches and whether it's tied to the cancer meds she's been on.

X-Rays and CT scans painted a tough picture: metastatic disease in her lungs, a destructive lesion in her neck vertebra, and what looked like a metastasis in her brain. The treatment plan quickly escalated. A Neurosurgeon came into play, suggesting immediate surgery to remove the tumor in her 2nd vertebrae in her spinal cord, which we agreed to. On August 22, 2023, Angelica underwent surgery where 80% of the tumor was successfully removed. The other 20% of the tumor could not be removed as it was dangerously close to her artery that the Neurosurgeon was afraid that if he tried to go in deeper to remove more of the tumor that it would cause a seizure or even death. The plan now? Target the remaining 20% with Radiation Therapy, but only after allowing her surgical wounds to heal for 6 to 8 weeks.

In the image above, you're catching a glimpse from a video of the titanium plate and screws set into Angelica's skull and C3-C5 vertebrae after they took out most of the tumor. It's surreal thinking there's actual permanent hardware in her neck and skull just so she can move her head and neck together because of the cancer.

Take a peek at the video above, and brace yourself - you'll get a front-row seat to the neurosurgeon's intricate process as he removes tumor pieces and fits in the titanium plate and screws. Angelica was face-down the entire time, giving the doc optimal positioning. Honestly, it's quite the wild sight!

I've added an illustration for a clearer idea of what the C2, C3, C4, and so on, look like and their crucial role in head and neck movement. Notice where the C2 vertebra is? The cancer damaged it to the point that the doctor couldn’t fix the plate there and had to move down to another vertebra to secure the titanium plate.

Check out the picture above: Angelica had a whopping 28 staples in her skull and neck post-surgery. Surprisingly, when they took them out, it was smooth sailing. Angelica even said she didn’t feel a thing during the removal!

Through all this, Angelica has been resilient, undergoing physical therapy both at the hospital and here at home. We're scheduled for a post-op visit to the Neurosurgeon on October 16, with a crucial Cervical X-ray just a week before that. Once Radiation Therapy is complete, we can then dive into those clinical trials, chasing after that precious hope of a full cure.

To put it candidly, our situation is overwhelming. I recently had to leave my job as a contractor due to a dip in the company's revenue and my necessary focus on Angelica's medical journey as well as my son’s continuing education. This isn't a plea for charity; in fact, I'm due to begin a new contract in a few weeks. However, it will realistically take another three to four months before I can solidify our financial footing and address the mounting medical expenses. The combined strain of our circumstances and the hiatus in my income has stretched us thin, and we genuinely value your continued support. Angelica's heart swells with gratitude for every gesture, message, and donation. Each contribution, no matter its form, is a lifeline for us during this time. We humbly ask for your understanding and assistance as we navigate this chapter.

The journey ahead is vital, and we do need your help. We appreciate any support you can offer, be it prayers, kind words, or funds to help with the mounting medical bills. From the depths of our hearts, thank you for being our rock.

Hold onto your hats, folks! Once Angelica later down the road, hits that triumphant moment and rings that bell as a declaration of being cancer-free, you better believe we're going full circle! We'll be paying it forward, spreading hope and help just like you've given us!

We will continue to keep everyone updated on Angelica’s health and recovery. Reach out to us at any time.

– With all our love,

The Goulden’s.