Charlene's Fight
Donation protected
Charlene Fisher is a single mom to a (just turned!) 14-year-old boy. She’s warmhearted and has an easy way about her, and she's fiercely dedicated to her family and friends.. She’s independent and works hard to maintain a safe and loving home for her son. Charlene is a survivor and a fighter, and she’s in for the fight of her life.
About 4 months ago, in March, Charlene began experiencing some abnormal bleeding/spotting between her normal monthly cycle. She didn’t think much of it and wrote it off as peri-menopause. She started feeling sluggish. As she explained to me on one of our regular walks, “something just doesn’t feel right.”
A couple months later, along with the spotting and all around not feeling “right”, she started feeling bloated around her mid-section, but it was firm and seemed to be getting bigger. Luckily, even during the COVID-19 pandemic Charlene was able to get an in-person appointment with her GYN doctor where they performed the first ultrasound and blood work. They suspected she had a tumor but didn’t know if it was merely a cyst or something more dangerous, or where exactly it was (it was suspected to be in or on her left ovary), but because the blood work indicated elevated markers for cancer she was referred to a gynecological oncologist – but the appointment wasn’t until two weeks later.
I urged her to call every day to try to get in earlier, and as luck (ha!) would have it, she developed a UTI a couple days later and the pain of that forced her to stay home from work, and she did call the gynecological oncologist. They could see her first thing the next morning.
Things started happening quickly at that point. The oncologist did an exam and said the tumor was as big as a large grapefruit on or around the left ovary and it needed to come out – the very next day (the morning of June 18th)! Not only did they need to remove the tumor, they also performed a full radical hysterectomy. Charlene didn’t have time to process the information and didn’t want to share this with her only son – so afraid of the unknown. She mobilized quickly and accepted an offer from a dear friend, Rosanna, to go to her home and care for her son while she was in the hospital.
Charlene’s surgery was a success, but the doctors confirmed that yes, the tumor was malignant and yes, she has ovarian cancer. Cancer sucks! She’s home from the hospital and recovering, but she cannot believe how much pain she is in. She did share with her son her disease, he has stepped up to help around the house, and her upbeat attitude has not faltered. She’s sure she can beat this and so am I.
Next step is chemotherapy. She’ll receive the first of at least 6 IV treatments starting next week. Charlene is ready to fight this awful cancer. Understandably, she's worried about the side effects of the chemotherapy – how is she going to feel? How much hair loss? Will she have energy to parent her only son, especially as COVID runs rampant and school will be online next month?
I know Charlene is giving it all she’s got all the while minimizing the effects for her boy. It’s a scary time all around, but she had her cut as short as is comfortable and is picking out scarves to complement her beautiful disposition in anticipation of what’s to come. She’s making plans to ensure that her boy doesn’t lose out on his education and strategies to keep COVID away from their home.
Cancer is clearly altering some of Charlene’s plans, and the weeks and months ahead bring many challenges and much uncertainty. There’s so much more to learn. However, it is undeniable that the current and future medical bills are mounting. Staggering. Knowing Charlene is fiercely independent she’s not one to ask for help. But she does need our help.
During this fight we hope to keep Charlene’s worries and energy focused on beating cancer’s ass. If you can help, your donations and shares will be greatly appreciated. Please contribute if you can, and send healing thoughts, wishes, and prayers.
I will post updates soon! Thanks so very much for the love!
About 4 months ago, in March, Charlene began experiencing some abnormal bleeding/spotting between her normal monthly cycle. She didn’t think much of it and wrote it off as peri-menopause. She started feeling sluggish. As she explained to me on one of our regular walks, “something just doesn’t feel right.”
A couple months later, along with the spotting and all around not feeling “right”, she started feeling bloated around her mid-section, but it was firm and seemed to be getting bigger. Luckily, even during the COVID-19 pandemic Charlene was able to get an in-person appointment with her GYN doctor where they performed the first ultrasound and blood work. They suspected she had a tumor but didn’t know if it was merely a cyst or something more dangerous, or where exactly it was (it was suspected to be in or on her left ovary), but because the blood work indicated elevated markers for cancer she was referred to a gynecological oncologist – but the appointment wasn’t until two weeks later.
I urged her to call every day to try to get in earlier, and as luck (ha!) would have it, she developed a UTI a couple days later and the pain of that forced her to stay home from work, and she did call the gynecological oncologist. They could see her first thing the next morning.
Things started happening quickly at that point. The oncologist did an exam and said the tumor was as big as a large grapefruit on or around the left ovary and it needed to come out – the very next day (the morning of June 18th)! Not only did they need to remove the tumor, they also performed a full radical hysterectomy. Charlene didn’t have time to process the information and didn’t want to share this with her only son – so afraid of the unknown. She mobilized quickly and accepted an offer from a dear friend, Rosanna, to go to her home and care for her son while she was in the hospital.
Charlene’s surgery was a success, but the doctors confirmed that yes, the tumor was malignant and yes, she has ovarian cancer. Cancer sucks! She’s home from the hospital and recovering, but she cannot believe how much pain she is in. She did share with her son her disease, he has stepped up to help around the house, and her upbeat attitude has not faltered. She’s sure she can beat this and so am I.
Next step is chemotherapy. She’ll receive the first of at least 6 IV treatments starting next week. Charlene is ready to fight this awful cancer. Understandably, she's worried about the side effects of the chemotherapy – how is she going to feel? How much hair loss? Will she have energy to parent her only son, especially as COVID runs rampant and school will be online next month?
I know Charlene is giving it all she’s got all the while minimizing the effects for her boy. It’s a scary time all around, but she had her cut as short as is comfortable and is picking out scarves to complement her beautiful disposition in anticipation of what’s to come. She’s making plans to ensure that her boy doesn’t lose out on his education and strategies to keep COVID away from their home.
Cancer is clearly altering some of Charlene’s plans, and the weeks and months ahead bring many challenges and much uncertainty. There’s so much more to learn. However, it is undeniable that the current and future medical bills are mounting. Staggering. Knowing Charlene is fiercely independent she’s not one to ask for help. But she does need our help.
During this fight we hope to keep Charlene’s worries and energy focused on beating cancer’s ass. If you can help, your donations and shares will be greatly appreciated. Please contribute if you can, and send healing thoughts, wishes, and prayers.
I will post updates soon! Thanks so very much for the love!
Organiser and beneficiary
Kirsten Okoneski Lucera
Organiser
Carlsbad, CA
Charlene Fisher
Beneficiary