Bethany Siddall - Fight Strong

Wife. Mother. Sister. Friend. Mentor…the list is endless (including Creator of Exquisite Holiday Light Shows!). Bethany is one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met: she has never asked for help, never admitted defeat in the face of any problem or adversity, and has adopted the tagline “I’m not a quitter, I’m a problem solver!” I don’t know of someone who faces every trial life has to offer with a smile and bring-it-on attitude like Bethany.

Cancer is a taxing, life-altering disease. Not just for the individual that has been diagnosed, but their family and friends as well. It’s true what they say: no one fights alone.

Bethany was diagnosed with Stage 3 HER-2 Positive breast cancer September 29th, 2015. After undergoing treatment she beat it into remission. But on August 24th, 2017 that changed. After an abnormality was noted on a routine follow-up scan, a biopsy and PET scan confirmed that not only had she been diagnosed with a reoccurrence of the same cancer, it moved into her liver and advanced to Stage 4. There is no cure for her type of cancer, however it can be treated. In other words, this is a life-altering diagnosis in that Bethany will continue treatment and/or maintenance treatment indefinitely. This includes PET scans and echocardiograms every 3 months indefinitely.

Bethany is an extraordinary woman who has taken this news in stride in the midst of starting a new job, caring for her family, and all the other things in between that life throws at her. She will be undergoing an aggressive weekly regimen of Taxol chemotherapy, in addition to Perjeta and Herceptin every three weeks. We do not yet know how her body will react to this treatment course this time as 1) it’s a different regimen than before and 2) it will be weekly treatment of the Taxol vs. Taxotere every three weeks. 

Many people have already reached out to me asking how they can help. After discussions with her family, we determined that the best way to support her in this fight is alleviating some daily worries: things as daunting as items not covered by insurance to simple things like deductibles. Even having some help with the daily or weekly chores like house cleaning would mean the world to her so she can rest and recover between treatments. It is not in Bethany’s nature to ask for help, so I am humbly asking on her behalf. She is the closest family I have known and has spent her life caring for others. Thank you for lifting some of this burden off of her now so she can focus on the fight.

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