Casey's Ongoing Battle with MBC
Donation protected
In May of 2016 our friend of over twenty years was diagnosed with HER2 Triple Positive, Metastatic Breast Cancer. We were left in disbelief - how does this happen to an active 37 year old woman?? In case you’ve never heard of Metastatic Breast Cancer, it is an advanced form of cancer that has spread beyond the breast, to other organs in the body. It is considered stage four, the most severe stage of any cancer, and MBC is incurable. There have been advances in therapies, but treatment is lifelong for all MBC patients. Now, back to May of 2016…
At that time Casey was pregnant with her first child. We were all so excited to welcome a little one! Instead of normal complaints women share during a first trimesters, Casey shared her constant excruciating pain in her neck, and other areas not normally associated with pregnancies. She knew something was not right. Prenatal screenings showed that the baby’s health was compromised with a severe case of Cystic Hygroma that enveloped his entire cranium. The great size of the Cystic Hygroma, so early into development, every scan showing more growth, left little hope the baby would make it full-term. To further, complicate things, the baby also had Down Syndrome. Faced with the stark reality every test (and there were many) further confirmed. Casey and her boyfriend made the heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy. Their heartbreak was beyond measure. Casey and Maydo were beyond devastated.
Since obtaining her degree in Environmental Horticulture, Casey has owned and operated her own small landscape design business. She creates beautiful gardens and landscapes for her clients’ properties. Casey has always taken lead in the arduous installation process. All of this in the sweltering Florida climate. Because of this we assumed Casey’s pain had to stem from her hard laborious work, but it did not add up. Her chiropractor had limited diagnosis and treatment options during her pregnancy. After the pregnancy ended, a MRI was ordered, and the news was not good. The MRI confirmed Casey was riddled with lesions all over her spine. Her neck pain was due to lesion eroded into her neck caused a fracture. That is when our lives forever changed, at 37 years old Casey, was diagnosed with Cancer.
Still reeling from the baby’s unviability, Casey now had to process that her own life was at grave danger. Nothing happens very quickly once you are diagnosed with Cancer. There are still days and weeks of waiting to have tests done, waiting for results, waiting for doctor appointments, waiting for referrals… Casey’s prognosis was not good. Somehow Casey remained positive, and decided to do her part in getting healthy as she could while awaiting for her medical team to compile her options. Casey and her mother researched everything about her aggressive, incurable stage IV form of Cancer. All the leading research shows a complete organic lifestyle is a must with hormone sensitive illnesses. There are just too many chemicals and pesticides that are estrogen disruptors, and have a plain correlation to her illness. Casey set to work changing EVERYTHING about her lifestyle from nutrition, supplements, food, and even toiletries. Casey’s follows her medical team’s plan and incorporates holistic approaches and supplements to attack her illness on all levels.
This all happened over a year ago. Recently Casey shared that her oncologist initially felt her cancer was so advanced, that he gave her a year to live. If you know Casey, she means what she says, and she said NO to her prognosis. Now here we are over a year later and with a lot of Faith, Joy, Resiliency, Grace and Work Casey is currently in a state of “No Evidence of Disease!” Casey has responded in the top 7% of patients with her condition and treatment. She is our miracle.
Casey has an amazing support system with her family and close friends, but know that she is the type of person that doesn’t ask for help. However, her reality is that she does need help. Obviously the cost of medical bills are astronomical. Having an organic lifestyle is expensive. There is a lot that insurance does not cover, and the financial strain is massive. She has kept her business going, but her expenses have increased. Casey responded to treatment so well, but her diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer never goes away. Casey has to sustain her new lifestyle forever. Emotionally, things are very hard. On top of it all, as part of her treatment, Casey’s body was forced into Menopause. Besides the reality of her illness Casey had to face that she will not be able to have children. This is enough to break any 38 year old, but Casey said NO to Cancer come what may. She is the most inspiring person in our lives, and she now needs our help!
Casey is grateful that she still has the strength to work, but though now with a more limited capacity. The metastasis to her bones and body has significantly limited what she can physically do. Yes, Casey still works on most installations! Then there are so many doctors’ appointments, treatments, therapy, and wellness appointments, that cuts into her ability to schedule jobs. Being the pillar of strength that she is, Casey has managed to continue to work this past year through her rounds of radiation, and while receiving treatment every three weeks. Her treatment is a lifelong chemo cycle. You can imagine the pressure she faces trying to keep all the bills paid, deal with this lifelong diagnosis, and remain healthy!
We started this go fund me page to try to alleviate some of that pressure. Know that a year ago, there would be NO WAY Casey would have agreed to a Go Fund Me campaign - NEVER. However, we have seen the work she has done and is doing. We see that she is never letting go of this fight. We also see the strain of carrying this heavy burden on Casey is also causing. This girl would give you anything she has to you in a time of need, and we cherish her. More importantly, she has something to offer the world, and we need her here to help spread the light that she shines. Every little contribution would be greatly appreciated so help Casey keep up her fight and share her light!
At that time Casey was pregnant with her first child. We were all so excited to welcome a little one! Instead of normal complaints women share during a first trimesters, Casey shared her constant excruciating pain in her neck, and other areas not normally associated with pregnancies. She knew something was not right. Prenatal screenings showed that the baby’s health was compromised with a severe case of Cystic Hygroma that enveloped his entire cranium. The great size of the Cystic Hygroma, so early into development, every scan showing more growth, left little hope the baby would make it full-term. To further, complicate things, the baby also had Down Syndrome. Faced with the stark reality every test (and there were many) further confirmed. Casey and her boyfriend made the heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy. Their heartbreak was beyond measure. Casey and Maydo were beyond devastated.
Since obtaining her degree in Environmental Horticulture, Casey has owned and operated her own small landscape design business. She creates beautiful gardens and landscapes for her clients’ properties. Casey has always taken lead in the arduous installation process. All of this in the sweltering Florida climate. Because of this we assumed Casey’s pain had to stem from her hard laborious work, but it did not add up. Her chiropractor had limited diagnosis and treatment options during her pregnancy. After the pregnancy ended, a MRI was ordered, and the news was not good. The MRI confirmed Casey was riddled with lesions all over her spine. Her neck pain was due to lesion eroded into her neck caused a fracture. That is when our lives forever changed, at 37 years old Casey, was diagnosed with Cancer.
Still reeling from the baby’s unviability, Casey now had to process that her own life was at grave danger. Nothing happens very quickly once you are diagnosed with Cancer. There are still days and weeks of waiting to have tests done, waiting for results, waiting for doctor appointments, waiting for referrals… Casey’s prognosis was not good. Somehow Casey remained positive, and decided to do her part in getting healthy as she could while awaiting for her medical team to compile her options. Casey and her mother researched everything about her aggressive, incurable stage IV form of Cancer. All the leading research shows a complete organic lifestyle is a must with hormone sensitive illnesses. There are just too many chemicals and pesticides that are estrogen disruptors, and have a plain correlation to her illness. Casey set to work changing EVERYTHING about her lifestyle from nutrition, supplements, food, and even toiletries. Casey’s follows her medical team’s plan and incorporates holistic approaches and supplements to attack her illness on all levels.
This all happened over a year ago. Recently Casey shared that her oncologist initially felt her cancer was so advanced, that he gave her a year to live. If you know Casey, she means what she says, and she said NO to her prognosis. Now here we are over a year later and with a lot of Faith, Joy, Resiliency, Grace and Work Casey is currently in a state of “No Evidence of Disease!” Casey has responded in the top 7% of patients with her condition and treatment. She is our miracle.
Casey has an amazing support system with her family and close friends, but know that she is the type of person that doesn’t ask for help. However, her reality is that she does need help. Obviously the cost of medical bills are astronomical. Having an organic lifestyle is expensive. There is a lot that insurance does not cover, and the financial strain is massive. She has kept her business going, but her expenses have increased. Casey responded to treatment so well, but her diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer never goes away. Casey has to sustain her new lifestyle forever. Emotionally, things are very hard. On top of it all, as part of her treatment, Casey’s body was forced into Menopause. Besides the reality of her illness Casey had to face that she will not be able to have children. This is enough to break any 38 year old, but Casey said NO to Cancer come what may. She is the most inspiring person in our lives, and she now needs our help!
Casey is grateful that she still has the strength to work, but though now with a more limited capacity. The metastasis to her bones and body has significantly limited what she can physically do. Yes, Casey still works on most installations! Then there are so many doctors’ appointments, treatments, therapy, and wellness appointments, that cuts into her ability to schedule jobs. Being the pillar of strength that she is, Casey has managed to continue to work this past year through her rounds of radiation, and while receiving treatment every three weeks. Her treatment is a lifelong chemo cycle. You can imagine the pressure she faces trying to keep all the bills paid, deal with this lifelong diagnosis, and remain healthy!
We started this go fund me page to try to alleviate some of that pressure. Know that a year ago, there would be NO WAY Casey would have agreed to a Go Fund Me campaign - NEVER. However, we have seen the work she has done and is doing. We see that she is never letting go of this fight. We also see the strain of carrying this heavy burden on Casey is also causing. This girl would give you anything she has to you in a time of need, and we cherish her. More importantly, she has something to offer the world, and we need her here to help spread the light that she shines. Every little contribution would be greatly appreciated so help Casey keep up her fight and share her light!
Organiser and beneficiary
Sarah Flikkema
Organiser
Grand Rapids, MI
Casey Rosemeyer
Beneficiary
