My mom's fight against cancer
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My mom, Sylvia, is 81, who has never had any health issues until this year, is fighting the worst disease ever. She is fighting colon cancer. Diagnosed in june 2017 after a simple routine procedure that was done, a colonoscopy. She has surgery scheduled for August 3rd, she will have a section of her colon removed where the cancer tumor is followed by chemotherapy and radiation. My mom is the strongest, courageous, kind and loving person that you would ever meet. Her smile is contagious and her positive outlook in life is beyond words to describe. When she found out that she has cancer, she did not cry, pass out, yell or scream. Her words were 'well let's prepare and fight this little sucker because I am not ready to go, I am still needed here". I was the one crying, losing my mind thinking no not my mom, thinking how my world would be without her. I can't go down without a fight for my mother. I am her caregiver, her daughter, her friend and I will be helping her each and every step of the way. This is a long battle but we will not let cancer take away the most precious human in my life. I will be taking time off of work, an LOA (leave of absence) without pay to take care of mom. Financially, I am worried that I won't have enough for the medical expenses, medical supplies, food or little things here and there that I might need to get while I stay home and care for mom and also dad. She is worried that the money she has saved will go to medical bills and treatments. I work part-time and the money I do have now is going to my bills. I have lost sleep thinking on how I will make this work. I will also be taking care of my dad while mom recovers in the hospital. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers/dementia within the same week my mom was diagnosed with cancer so we got 2 blows in one month. My mom was his full time caregiver while i worked so i know this will be a truly challenging time in my life, taking care of both mom and dad. I know i could never master what mom could do. But i will try my best to not let her down. My mother needs me and I need to gather my strength to fight along with her in this journey! The funds raised will go towards the medical treatments, medical bills or anything else she might need during her process of fighting this battle. These next few months will be very overwhelming for all of us. But we will keep the faith!~
Update as of August 29th, 2017 Unfortunately, mom's visit to see her oncologist didn't go well. Her pet scan that was done on her lungs, the oncologist gave us sad news that the tumor located on her left lung is positive for cancer. Her oncologist said that it could of mestisized from her colon to her lung or that is a completely different type of cancer that began in her lung. She is required to have surgery as soon as she builds her strength up from The last surgery she had on August 3rd. She will begin chemo about 2 weeks after her surgery. They will remove a piece of her lung where it's been affected.
It was not the kind of news we wanted to hear. I wanted to hear that she was cancer free, and it deeply hurts to know that she's not. Mom didn't want to hear it either but she has been given answers to all of her questions and now it's just sinking in and then just take it day by day. This is gonna be hard On us. It's in gods hands
Update as of October 11th 2017: Mom this morning has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer to her lung. She had a bronchoscopy biopsy done at uic hospital a week ago. Her next appointment is next Week with her surgeon, it is to discuss surgery to remove the tumors in her lung. It took over a month to find out what the tumor in her lung was. But, we are moving forward and proceed to the next part of moms journey.
Update as of November 2nd 2017:
Mom had surgery done to remove the cancer tumor from her lung and also has had an upper left lung lung lobe lobectomy where they removed about close to half of her left lung. The surgery went as planned and was successful. She did have a little complication with pneumothorax where she remained in the hospital in ICU for 17 days. With X-rays done every day they keep a close watch of her lung and also 2 tubes attached to her lung to drain and suction her lung to help it heal. She finally came home November 18th to her family so she can recover comfortably. It will be a long recovery and she is taking it like a champ and although she says it hurts like heck she is gonna fight to get well.
Update as of February 1, 2018-
She began her 3rd cycle of xeloda, she is experiencing side effects with her vision, balance, hands and feet changing color and very sensitive, her hair loss is gradually thinning out but luckily she has had no nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. She will complete 8 cycles and hopefully will be done in September or sooner. We are praying that this chemo is doing its job and mom will completely be cancer free and ring the bell . Thank you to everyone who has been supportive of moms journey and have sent many prayers moms way
Update as of August 29th, 2017 Unfortunately, mom's visit to see her oncologist didn't go well. Her pet scan that was done on her lungs, the oncologist gave us sad news that the tumor located on her left lung is positive for cancer. Her oncologist said that it could of mestisized from her colon to her lung or that is a completely different type of cancer that began in her lung. She is required to have surgery as soon as she builds her strength up from The last surgery she had on August 3rd. She will begin chemo about 2 weeks after her surgery. They will remove a piece of her lung where it's been affected.
It was not the kind of news we wanted to hear. I wanted to hear that she was cancer free, and it deeply hurts to know that she's not. Mom didn't want to hear it either but she has been given answers to all of her questions and now it's just sinking in and then just take it day by day. This is gonna be hard On us. It's in gods hands
Update as of October 11th 2017: Mom this morning has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer to her lung. She had a bronchoscopy biopsy done at uic hospital a week ago. Her next appointment is next Week with her surgeon, it is to discuss surgery to remove the tumors in her lung. It took over a month to find out what the tumor in her lung was. But, we are moving forward and proceed to the next part of moms journey.
Update as of November 2nd 2017:
Mom had surgery done to remove the cancer tumor from her lung and also has had an upper left lung lung lobe lobectomy where they removed about close to half of her left lung. The surgery went as planned and was successful. She did have a little complication with pneumothorax where she remained in the hospital in ICU for 17 days. With X-rays done every day they keep a close watch of her lung and also 2 tubes attached to her lung to drain and suction her lung to help it heal. She finally came home November 18th to her family so she can recover comfortably. It will be a long recovery and she is taking it like a champ and although she says it hurts like heck she is gonna fight to get well.
Update as of February 1, 2018-
She began her 3rd cycle of xeloda, she is experiencing side effects with her vision, balance, hands and feet changing color and very sensitive, her hair loss is gradually thinning out but luckily she has had no nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. She will complete 8 cycles and hopefully will be done in September or sooner. We are praying that this chemo is doing its job and mom will completely be cancer free and ring the bell . Thank you to everyone who has been supportive of moms journey and have sent many prayers moms way
Organizer
Guadalupe Reyes
Organizer
Chicago, IL
