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I will keep the introduction super short because this GoFundMe page is not about me. My name is Jordan Stone. I am the son of Carolyn Crister (whom this GoFundMe page is about).
A little bit of background about my mom: she was born in 1962 (although she would never admit to it) and raised in Henderson, KY; she has two sons (my brother, Zack, and me), a daughter-in-law that my mom refers to as her daughter, Brittany, two grandchildren, and two loving parents; she dedicated her life to helping and aiding people who had varying forms of mental retardation for nearly 20 years; she has some incredible friends that could be the sisters she never had; and she would live on the beach, if she could.
For the most part, my mom lived a very normal and simple life—until January 2009. She became very lethargic and retained enough fluid for her to appear pregnant. After months of countless doctor visits, diagnoses, labs, MRIs, CT scans, one surgeon agreed to do an exploratory operation. And that was it. On April 15, 2009, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer. In May 2009, she underwent a seven hour debulking surgery, a two-week stay at the University of Louisville hospital, and began a grueling regimen of chemotherapy.
As tough as it was watching my mom go through this horrid situation, in the end, it paid off. Those heavenly words of “remission” were finally said. We tried, to the best of our ability, to keep things at a certain level of normalcy. Those of us who have been affected by this abhorrent disease know all too well that “normalcy” is easier said than done—with the monthly labs checking the CA-125 levels (cancer antigen 125 is a marker sometimes used to check for tumor growth in ovarian cancer patients), blood levels, and immune system strength, and the CT scans every three months.
It was a great five years of remission… however, cancer is persistent.
In September 2015, it was back. This time it had metastasized to her Pouch of Morrison (I had to Google it too), which is the area between the right kidney and liver. Once they had taken her into surgery, the cancer had already grown enough where it had started to attach itself to her liver—not yet invade it, but it was holding on to it. They removed half of her liver, she had another two week stay in the hospital, and another rough regimen of chemotherapy. After some months, we were able to hear those wonderful words of “remission” again.
Unfortunately, remission this time has been short-lived. She had a great five months of remission, but sadly it has returned again in three lymph nodes. The doctors are not giving up and neither is my mom. Her chemotherapy will begin again in January 2016.
All of that to get to the reason as to why I have started this GoFundMe page.
After my mom’s last remission, she decided that she was going to live her life to the fullest… she refuses to let cancer win. She started a bucket list… and that is why I have started this page. I wish, more than anything, that I could help her realize her dreams on that list on my own, but there is no way. I know that times are tough for everyone and I hate to even ask for help, but that is where I have found myself.
Her list:
1. Learn the piano
2. Hug a horse
3. See a lighthouse
4. Learn to line dance
5. Learn photography
6. Take her grandsons to Disney
7. Visit Times Square in NYC
8. Drive cross country like Thelma and Louise
9. Stay in cabin in the mountains
10. Ride a train
11. Walk the survivor’s lap at the Kentucky Derby
12. See/Meet Tyler Perry in person
13. See the Biblical Ark in Williamstown, KY
14. Go to the Kentucky State Fair
15. Start a special tradition with grandkids
16. Learn to crochet
17. Kick cancer’s ass
18. See paradise
19. Read the Bible cover to cover
20. Watch two handsome men graduate (her grandsons)
I know the list is short, and the list continues to grow, but I want to help her realize the list she has now.
I have never lived a monetarily rich life, but I have never wanted for anything. My mom made sure we always had everything we needed and everything in her ability to make sure we wanted for nothing. My mom is one of the most loving people I know and would do anything for anyone. I know that $3000 is a hefty goal to ask for… I also know that it won’t complete this list… but it would definitely help to add some checkmarks next to the items. Even if you can’t give financially, prayers and positive thoughts are just as welcome!
A little bit of background about my mom: she was born in 1962 (although she would never admit to it) and raised in Henderson, KY; she has two sons (my brother, Zack, and me), a daughter-in-law that my mom refers to as her daughter, Brittany, two grandchildren, and two loving parents; she dedicated her life to helping and aiding people who had varying forms of mental retardation for nearly 20 years; she has some incredible friends that could be the sisters she never had; and she would live on the beach, if she could.
For the most part, my mom lived a very normal and simple life—until January 2009. She became very lethargic and retained enough fluid for her to appear pregnant. After months of countless doctor visits, diagnoses, labs, MRIs, CT scans, one surgeon agreed to do an exploratory operation. And that was it. On April 15, 2009, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer. In May 2009, she underwent a seven hour debulking surgery, a two-week stay at the University of Louisville hospital, and began a grueling regimen of chemotherapy.
As tough as it was watching my mom go through this horrid situation, in the end, it paid off. Those heavenly words of “remission” were finally said. We tried, to the best of our ability, to keep things at a certain level of normalcy. Those of us who have been affected by this abhorrent disease know all too well that “normalcy” is easier said than done—with the monthly labs checking the CA-125 levels (cancer antigen 125 is a marker sometimes used to check for tumor growth in ovarian cancer patients), blood levels, and immune system strength, and the CT scans every three months.
It was a great five years of remission… however, cancer is persistent.
In September 2015, it was back. This time it had metastasized to her Pouch of Morrison (I had to Google it too), which is the area between the right kidney and liver. Once they had taken her into surgery, the cancer had already grown enough where it had started to attach itself to her liver—not yet invade it, but it was holding on to it. They removed half of her liver, she had another two week stay in the hospital, and another rough regimen of chemotherapy. After some months, we were able to hear those wonderful words of “remission” again.
Unfortunately, remission this time has been short-lived. She had a great five months of remission, but sadly it has returned again in three lymph nodes. The doctors are not giving up and neither is my mom. Her chemotherapy will begin again in January 2016.
All of that to get to the reason as to why I have started this GoFundMe page.
After my mom’s last remission, she decided that she was going to live her life to the fullest… she refuses to let cancer win. She started a bucket list… and that is why I have started this page. I wish, more than anything, that I could help her realize her dreams on that list on my own, but there is no way. I know that times are tough for everyone and I hate to even ask for help, but that is where I have found myself.
Her list:
1. Learn the piano
2. Hug a horse
3. See a lighthouse
4. Learn to line dance
5. Learn photography
6. Take her grandsons to Disney
7. Visit Times Square in NYC
8. Drive cross country like Thelma and Louise
9. Stay in cabin in the mountains
10. Ride a train
11. Walk the survivor’s lap at the Kentucky Derby
12. See/Meet Tyler Perry in person
13. See the Biblical Ark in Williamstown, KY
14. Go to the Kentucky State Fair
15. Start a special tradition with grandkids
16. Learn to crochet
17. Kick cancer’s ass
18. See paradise
19. Read the Bible cover to cover
20. Watch two handsome men graduate (her grandsons)
I know the list is short, and the list continues to grow, but I want to help her realize the list she has now.
I have never lived a monetarily rich life, but I have never wanted for anything. My mom made sure we always had everything we needed and everything in her ability to make sure we wanted for nothing. My mom is one of the most loving people I know and would do anything for anyone. I know that $3000 is a hefty goal to ask for… I also know that it won’t complete this list… but it would definitely help to add some checkmarks next to the items. Even if you can’t give financially, prayers and positive thoughts are just as welcome!
Organizer and beneficiary
Carolyn Critser
Beneficiary