Terminal Mom of 3 Beautiful Girls
Donation protected
I am not sure what all you want for the story as to what led to my terminal diagnosis, so I will try to start from what I consider the beginning...
Since I was a teenager, I had always had issues with my periods, but it wasn't until I was 22 that I was diagnosed with Polycystic ovarian disease. At that time I was also told that it would be incredibly difficult for me to ever get or keep a pregnancy. After years of trying, we finally had our first child. Shortly after her birth in 2008, I began having issues with kidney stones. In 2012, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and stones, as well as being told we would never be able to have any more children. However, to our surprise, we got pregnant with our 2nd daughter. It was a rough pregnancy with multiple kidney issues, as well as severe anemia. After her birth in 2013, I had become very ill because of an over 3 inch size kidney stone that caused a very rare infection throughout the right kidney. After having it surgically removed, a stent was placed from the right kidney to the bladder. My body rejected the stent and caused massive scarring at the opening of the kidney. We were also surprised to find out that we were expecting our 3rd daughter. During this pregnancy, the kidney disease advanced and functionality began to decrease and the scar tissue grew so much that it would almost completely block the opening when stones were present. After our 3rd daughter's birth, I had a tubal ligation until I was ready for a hysterectomy. However the Polycystic ovarian disease and chronic kidney disease and stones became out of control. So, October 2016, I began preparing as a cancer preventative measure, to have a hysterectomy. During the pre-op testing and imaging, numerous tumors and abnormal cells were detected. After the surgery in November, all but the ovaries were removed but all organs had samples removed to be tested. On December 9th, after learning of my husband's brother's death, I also received the results from the biopsies. In the course of 5 months, I had developed stage 4 cervical cancer, stage 3 uterine cancer and stage 3 ovarian cancer. We began an extremely aggressive 6 week course of radiation therapy. This caused the right kidney to show signs of failure, so after finding out that the 1st round of radiation didn't work, we opted for an even more aggressive 12 week course of radiation therapy as well as kidney therapy. After that was completed, I had another PET scan. The ovarian cancer is in partial remission, however it is extremely common for this type of cancer to return and advance. Because we had gone with such an aggressive treatment, I developed extremely high radiation poisoning (this is why I cannot have any surgery because my body will not survive). It was then discovered that I am beginning renal failure. The right kidney is down to 1% functionality and the left has been dropping quickly as well. My oncologist and kidney specialist have been working with doctors around the country trying to find the right combination of medicine that may boost the functionality to try to keep me alive while my body tries to purge the toxins. However, these therapies are much worse than the radiation and have caused many more sides effects as well as not improving my percentages. On May 4th I was given my expiration date of 3 months at the very best. Now I hoping beyond anything that I get a miracle, however, I am aware that science doesn't lie, I am preparing for what the future holds for my daughter's and trying to not leave them and my husband with an obscene amount of medical debt that I have already racked up.
Since I was a teenager, I had always had issues with my periods, but it wasn't until I was 22 that I was diagnosed with Polycystic ovarian disease. At that time I was also told that it would be incredibly difficult for me to ever get or keep a pregnancy. After years of trying, we finally had our first child. Shortly after her birth in 2008, I began having issues with kidney stones. In 2012, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and stones, as well as being told we would never be able to have any more children. However, to our surprise, we got pregnant with our 2nd daughter. It was a rough pregnancy with multiple kidney issues, as well as severe anemia. After her birth in 2013, I had become very ill because of an over 3 inch size kidney stone that caused a very rare infection throughout the right kidney. After having it surgically removed, a stent was placed from the right kidney to the bladder. My body rejected the stent and caused massive scarring at the opening of the kidney. We were also surprised to find out that we were expecting our 3rd daughter. During this pregnancy, the kidney disease advanced and functionality began to decrease and the scar tissue grew so much that it would almost completely block the opening when stones were present. After our 3rd daughter's birth, I had a tubal ligation until I was ready for a hysterectomy. However the Polycystic ovarian disease and chronic kidney disease and stones became out of control. So, October 2016, I began preparing as a cancer preventative measure, to have a hysterectomy. During the pre-op testing and imaging, numerous tumors and abnormal cells were detected. After the surgery in November, all but the ovaries were removed but all organs had samples removed to be tested. On December 9th, after learning of my husband's brother's death, I also received the results from the biopsies. In the course of 5 months, I had developed stage 4 cervical cancer, stage 3 uterine cancer and stage 3 ovarian cancer. We began an extremely aggressive 6 week course of radiation therapy. This caused the right kidney to show signs of failure, so after finding out that the 1st round of radiation didn't work, we opted for an even more aggressive 12 week course of radiation therapy as well as kidney therapy. After that was completed, I had another PET scan. The ovarian cancer is in partial remission, however it is extremely common for this type of cancer to return and advance. Because we had gone with such an aggressive treatment, I developed extremely high radiation poisoning (this is why I cannot have any surgery because my body will not survive). It was then discovered that I am beginning renal failure. The right kidney is down to 1% functionality and the left has been dropping quickly as well. My oncologist and kidney specialist have been working with doctors around the country trying to find the right combination of medicine that may boost the functionality to try to keep me alive while my body tries to purge the toxins. However, these therapies are much worse than the radiation and have caused many more sides effects as well as not improving my percentages. On May 4th I was given my expiration date of 3 months at the very best. Now I hoping beyond anything that I get a miracle, however, I am aware that science doesn't lie, I am preparing for what the future holds for my daughter's and trying to not leave them and my husband with an obscene amount of medical debt that I have already racked up.
Organizer
Maralynne Christy-Sewell
Organizer
Michigan City, IN
