Cindle's Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Hello everyone,
This gofundme page is for my inspirational friend Cindle Lawson. I am going to do my best to tell a little bit of her story.
I first met Cindle when I began dental hygiene school last year. She turned up on campus with only a tiny fraction of the glorious mane you see in the photos below, but maintained that same smile. As someone who has dealt with hair loss myself, I saw the potential for relatability and was interested to find out what was going on.
I learned that Cindle had undergone, (presumably) her final chemotherapy treatment for cancer in the first week of our full time program. After one day recognizing a fixed and enlarged lymph node on the left side of her neck, Cindle had gone to the hospital. She was soon diagnosed with stage II Hodgkins lymphoma. By the time the treatment plan was in place, her cancer had progressed to stage III. Despite many complications from the chemotherapy, Cindle completed the last of her prerequisites and pushed onward with her goal of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist. Her bravery, determination, and (most of all) positive spirit really resonated with me and we became friends.
Just as Cindle's hair had grown into a cute pixie cut, two weeks before the second semester began, (and ironically right as we were learning to perform head and neck exams on each other,) she underwent her follow up tests with her Oncologist. She received bad news - the treatment had not resulted in remission as hoped and that damned lymph node was enlarging again. After allowing herself a few tears, Cindle picked herself up and immediately began executing her next plan.
Arrangements were made, she packed up her things and drove back home to Alberta over the holidays. I miss my friend and I'm sad that I can't be there to help her through this next chapter, but she now has her family's support. This go around she will ultimately be undergoing a high-dose chemotherapy that is consequentially quite likely to leave her infertile. Cindle loves kids and eventually wants a family of her own, so additionally her medical team planned an egg retrieval procedure to preserve that option.
I've been in touch with her through FaceTime over the last few months and found it rough just hearing about the drugs and the side effects associated with the fertility (comparatively easy) part of the treatment plan, however I was happy to hear that her eggs were successfully retrieved! Her medical team also advised an initial low dose chemo which she has now completed. Currently, she is undergoing what is called “mobilizing chemotherapy”, that is designed to release stem cells prior to collection. I'm told that because the pending high-dose chemo is unfortunately going to wipe out a lot of healthy cells, stem cell transplants will be beneficial to bring her body back to health afterwards, (and painfully, they have to come from somewhere.)
My fatigued friend was crumpled in a dark hospital room last time we chatted because every little thing was making her nauseated. I learned another fun fact: the chemo that releases the stem cells is known to burn the bladder if the patient doesn't stay super hydrated. I am keeping her in my thoughts a lot this month because I know the upcoming stem cell retrieval is going to be very hard on her.
..and that brings me to why I have created this account. Everyone knows that things are tight for students, but Cindle now has the added burden of medical treatment expenses, (not all of which are covered).
Cindle continues to inspire me! She does not back down from a challenge. Her spirits rarely falter and she plans to get back to school and all of her beloved outdoor activities as soon as humanly possible! Please help her make that reality. Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Kind words go along way as well!
Thank you everyone! xo
http://www.lymphoma.ca/lymphoma/hodgkin-lymphoma?gclid=Cj0KCQiAk-7jBRD9ARIsAEy8mh7dP3nWQQclN_iFt4wbexyqdhQKiXjnmZhWcqVy9mLDx1JkdJq2AUgaAhSkEALw_wcB
This gofundme page is for my inspirational friend Cindle Lawson. I am going to do my best to tell a little bit of her story.
I first met Cindle when I began dental hygiene school last year. She turned up on campus with only a tiny fraction of the glorious mane you see in the photos below, but maintained that same smile. As someone who has dealt with hair loss myself, I saw the potential for relatability and was interested to find out what was going on.
I learned that Cindle had undergone, (presumably) her final chemotherapy treatment for cancer in the first week of our full time program. After one day recognizing a fixed and enlarged lymph node on the left side of her neck, Cindle had gone to the hospital. She was soon diagnosed with stage II Hodgkins lymphoma. By the time the treatment plan was in place, her cancer had progressed to stage III. Despite many complications from the chemotherapy, Cindle completed the last of her prerequisites and pushed onward with her goal of becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist. Her bravery, determination, and (most of all) positive spirit really resonated with me and we became friends.
Just as Cindle's hair had grown into a cute pixie cut, two weeks before the second semester began, (and ironically right as we were learning to perform head and neck exams on each other,) she underwent her follow up tests with her Oncologist. She received bad news - the treatment had not resulted in remission as hoped and that damned lymph node was enlarging again. After allowing herself a few tears, Cindle picked herself up and immediately began executing her next plan.
Arrangements were made, she packed up her things and drove back home to Alberta over the holidays. I miss my friend and I'm sad that I can't be there to help her through this next chapter, but she now has her family's support. This go around she will ultimately be undergoing a high-dose chemotherapy that is consequentially quite likely to leave her infertile. Cindle loves kids and eventually wants a family of her own, so additionally her medical team planned an egg retrieval procedure to preserve that option.
I've been in touch with her through FaceTime over the last few months and found it rough just hearing about the drugs and the side effects associated with the fertility (comparatively easy) part of the treatment plan, however I was happy to hear that her eggs were successfully retrieved! Her medical team also advised an initial low dose chemo which she has now completed. Currently, she is undergoing what is called “mobilizing chemotherapy”, that is designed to release stem cells prior to collection. I'm told that because the pending high-dose chemo is unfortunately going to wipe out a lot of healthy cells, stem cell transplants will be beneficial to bring her body back to health afterwards, (and painfully, they have to come from somewhere.)
My fatigued friend was crumpled in a dark hospital room last time we chatted because every little thing was making her nauseated. I learned another fun fact: the chemo that releases the stem cells is known to burn the bladder if the patient doesn't stay super hydrated. I am keeping her in my thoughts a lot this month because I know the upcoming stem cell retrieval is going to be very hard on her.
..and that brings me to why I have created this account. Everyone knows that things are tight for students, but Cindle now has the added burden of medical treatment expenses, (not all of which are covered).
Cindle continues to inspire me! She does not back down from a challenge. Her spirits rarely falter and she plans to get back to school and all of her beloved outdoor activities as soon as humanly possible! Please help her make that reality. Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Kind words go along way as well!
Thank you everyone! xo
http://www.lymphoma.ca/lymphoma/hodgkin-lymphoma?gclid=Cj0KCQiAk-7jBRD9ARIsAEy8mh7dP3nWQQclN_iFt4wbexyqdhQKiXjnmZhWcqVy9mLDx1JkdJq2AUgaAhSkEALw_wcB
Co-organizers (2)
Kathleen Safarik
Organizer
Coquitlam, BC
Cindle Lawson
Beneficiary
Brenda Lawson
Co-organizer