Medical Fund For Tonie Long

My name is Clintona (Tonie) Long.  I am 52-years old and was recently diagnosed with a rare thyroid cancer (medullary*).  This cancer can spread aggressive to other organs and lymph nodes if it is not treated in a timely manner or watched consistently.  I have also been diagnosed with Hashimoto Disease and became a diabetic when first diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  I had 3 surgeries (March 13, 2015, June 16, 2015, and October 6, 2015).  I went from stage 1 to 3 in less than 6 months from my first diagnosis.  I am now a cancer patient at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Philadelphia (since December 2015). The doctors at CTCA did not want to do another surgery so after running numerous tests, my team of doctors want to begin radiation treatment which is 5 days a week for 7 weeks.  After that, I can expect another possible surgery.  My income has been drastically reduced because I am unable to work at this time due to poor cognitive skills, doctors' appointments, medications, a low heart rate and diabetes.  I have been struggling financially for two years.  I have rent and expenses in Delaware and a mortgage and expenses I share at home.  It has been difficult due to the fact I came to Delaware to obtain my Underwriter's Certificate with Bank of America.  I was only supposed to be here for one year then I became sick and was unable to leave because my doctors want to be sure I was cancer-free before I leave.  Now I am at a point in my life that I have had to call on family, friends, and the kindness of strangers.  I am being well taken care of at the Cancer Treatment Center of America but my expenses vary each time I am here ($45.00 a night or $150.00 a week).  When I start this new treatment, I will be in Philadelphia 5 days a week for 7 weeks.  I might be able to come back home to see my 14-year old son depending on how I feel after a week's treatment.  My husband, my son, and home is in Charlotte, NC but as I stated before my doctors did not want me to leave until all signs of cancer are gone.                     
 

*Medullary thyroid carcinoma develops from C cells in the thyroid gland, and is more aggressive and less differentiated than papillary or follicular cancers. Approximately 4 percent of all thyroid cancers will be of the medullary subtype. These cancers are more likely to spread to lymph nodes and other organs, compared with the more differentiated thyroid cancers. They also frequently release high levels calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which can be detected by blood tests.