I am organizing this fund raiser for my daughter
and her family to help ease the financial burden and added stress related to her fight against. Breast Cancer.
Many of you know Brittney, through us as a family, or from her time spent working at Marco's Pizza. She is kind, thoughtful, and quick to lend a helping hand. She loves to bake and cook, and always had yummy treats to share with those around her. She is a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.
In early December 2019 Brittney felt something in her Right Breast; it didn’t feel the same as her Left. Not a lump, just not right. As it was Christmas and she had plans to fly with the kids to Arizona to visit with myself, her dad, sister and niece she figured she would just go to the GYN when she got back home.
Fast forward to January; Her mammogram was suspicious, leading to an immediate ultrasound. Her ultrasound looks so distressing that the Breast Radiologist sent her immediately up to see a breast surgeon. A week later, she had 6 Biopsies from 3 separate tumors. From the biopsies alone, she was very sore and unable to lift her youngest son, Glen. An MRI of her chest last week led to a biopsy of a suspicious lypmh node, and another week of being unable to pick up the baby.
What we know:
She has at least 6 tumors in her right breast, probable lymph node involvement (waiting for biopsy report). HER2 positive, hormone negative. Grade 3 - aggressive, still unknown stage as we are waiting for CT/Bone scan results. She has no choice but to have a mastectomy after chemotherapy.
Brittney is 33 years old, with a husband, Duncan and 2 small children: Liam who is 7 and Glen who is 18 months old. This isn’t supposed to be happening. They had been making plans for the future, searching for new jobs, looking at new houses, planning Duncan's summer art fair schedules. Now the worry if she will survive to see her kids grow up.
She is putting up a brave face, staying positive and she is ready fight this beast. Brittney is looking at 6 months of chemotherapy, at least a single mastectomy, followed by Radiation (unknown amount of treatments as of now), and another 6 months of HER2 targeted gene therapy, then breast reconstruction. For the next year and a half, cancer will rob her of her hair, her physical strength, and her ability to care for her family the way she wants to.
Her Nurse Navigator at the Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, OH said “ you sound very upbeat and positive about this are you sure you’re doing OK?” (and her telling response shows that Although she feels she can beat this cancer she has other worries on her mind. Ones that may well impede her healing process).
“I have to be don’t I? I have a family with 2 small kids to hold together. I'm worried about not being able to pick up the baby, about being too sick from chemo to care for the kids. I'm worried about juggling appointments, kids, and my husband's work schedule. We depend on grandparents to babysit, but they work too. I can't afford to pay someone to watch the kids. I just want to be able to care for my kids, pay my bills and keep my house.”
As Brittney will be unable to work and Duncan only working part-time while taking care of her and the family, money will be tight. I will be flying out from my job in California to assist her as often as possible, but I am only one person. All the costs will be adding up. This is why I started this go fund me page.
The funds will be used to help pay for Child Care for Glen and Liam while Brittney receives her Chemotherapy treatments and attends doctors appointments, transportation costs to and from appointments, and costs associated with treatment (wigs, vitamins, medications, cooling gloves and socks so she doesn't lose her nails/neuropathy, etc...). Also to assist with all of the household bills and Mortgage as she will be unable to work during treatment.
This will allow Brittney and her family to Focus on the Important Task of Kicking Cancer's A#$!
Every donation is precious no matter how big or small. We also understand that times are tough and if you are unable to donate, any prayers or words of encouragement will be treasured. We ask if you could please share our story with your community, Facebook, and/or Instagram with this link it would be greatly appreciated!
gf.me/u/xkmxjg
Thank you again,
The Ansari & MacKinnon family