#Cure4Cole
Donation protected
8 months to live, take that in for a minute. What is that question everyone asks, where do you see yourself in five years? Such a basic question that we take so lightly but for me it takes on a whole new meaning. Two years ago I would have said I would like to be in a bigger house, hopefully with a pool. Possibly another dog in the mix ( I currently have three) and traveling with my husband and family. But now my answer is simple, to hopefully be alive.
Let me first thank you all for reading my page and taking interest in supporting my cause. My name is Nicole, I am a 39 year old terminal cancer patient who is seeking donations to help with medical expenses. My current diagnoses is stage 4 terminal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the salivary gland and it has spread to my liver, lungs and spine. ACC is an extremely aggressive and rare cancer that does not have a lot treatment paths. I have been given a life expectancy of less than 8 months to live if I can't get a treatment to slow the progression of the cancer.
I first discovered something was wrong in my body in October of 2017 when an ultrasound was done after I couldn't get rid of indigestion pain. The ultrasound showed two tumors growing on my ovaries. In January 2018 a complete hysterectomy was performed and the biopsy came back that I had ovarian cancer in both tumors. I underwent a Pet Scan and the Pet Scan showed that the Ovarian cancer was removed, but there was a tumor of concern on my parotid gland (salivary gland). I had scans and tests done to confirm that it was necessary to remove the tumor. Surgery was performed in June of 2018, my tumor was biopsied and I was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. The first plan of action was Chemotherapy and radiation treatment in August 2018 through October 2018. The follow up scans in January 2019 showed that the ACC had spread to my liver. The next course of treatment was Immunotherapy in February of 2019 after a few months of treatment and a scan later it was determined that the Immunotherapy was not working and my cancer has now grown in my liver, spread to my lungs and to my spine. I had exhausted my resources at Moffitt Cancer Center, their only option is a very difficult regimen of chemotherapy and radiation which has very little success rate. I don't want to roll over and die so I turned my attention to MD Anderson, the number one cancer treatment facility in the united states and the number one treatment facility for ACC. I currently have an opportunity to get treated at MD Anderson through a phase 2 clinical trial called AL 101 that is showing very promising results in fighting ACC, but I have to travel weekly to Houston, Texas from Lakeland, FL. The cost of traveling back and fourth is roughly 600 dollars a week around 20000/year and that is not counting any medical costs involved in the trial. I am currently in Houston getting the first round of testing with hopes to start treatment as soon as 6/15/2019. This is where I am hoping Go Fund me will help out. I am currently on disability through my work which cuts my income in half. My husband and I are barely able to keep the monthly bills under control with all my current medical costs and now with the added travel expense we are going to break the bank, but I have to give MD Anderson a chance, it literally may be the only thing that will save my life. My current goal is for 20000 to help with the costs. I am very grateful for any donations. I am going to be working on setting up a Facebook page, #Cure4Cole, where you can find updates on my testing and progress and I will also keep updating my go fund me page. Thank you again for viewing my page and taking interest in my cause, in me and in saving my life.
**Update on my Story 10/15/2019** I just received my second set of scans and unfortunately the treatment is not working for me. There are not a lot of treatment plans so now any donations will go toward covering current medical costs and possibly for me to live out the last bit of life I have the best way I can. I can't express how much I appreciate all the donations and prayers love and support I have received. You all are a blessing to me!!
Let me first thank you all for reading my page and taking interest in supporting my cause. My name is Nicole, I am a 39 year old terminal cancer patient who is seeking donations to help with medical expenses. My current diagnoses is stage 4 terminal Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the salivary gland and it has spread to my liver, lungs and spine. ACC is an extremely aggressive and rare cancer that does not have a lot treatment paths. I have been given a life expectancy of less than 8 months to live if I can't get a treatment to slow the progression of the cancer.
I first discovered something was wrong in my body in October of 2017 when an ultrasound was done after I couldn't get rid of indigestion pain. The ultrasound showed two tumors growing on my ovaries. In January 2018 a complete hysterectomy was performed and the biopsy came back that I had ovarian cancer in both tumors. I underwent a Pet Scan and the Pet Scan showed that the Ovarian cancer was removed, but there was a tumor of concern on my parotid gland (salivary gland). I had scans and tests done to confirm that it was necessary to remove the tumor. Surgery was performed in June of 2018, my tumor was biopsied and I was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. The first plan of action was Chemotherapy and radiation treatment in August 2018 through October 2018. The follow up scans in January 2019 showed that the ACC had spread to my liver. The next course of treatment was Immunotherapy in February of 2019 after a few months of treatment and a scan later it was determined that the Immunotherapy was not working and my cancer has now grown in my liver, spread to my lungs and to my spine. I had exhausted my resources at Moffitt Cancer Center, their only option is a very difficult regimen of chemotherapy and radiation which has very little success rate. I don't want to roll over and die so I turned my attention to MD Anderson, the number one cancer treatment facility in the united states and the number one treatment facility for ACC. I currently have an opportunity to get treated at MD Anderson through a phase 2 clinical trial called AL 101 that is showing very promising results in fighting ACC, but I have to travel weekly to Houston, Texas from Lakeland, FL. The cost of traveling back and fourth is roughly 600 dollars a week around 20000/year and that is not counting any medical costs involved in the trial. I am currently in Houston getting the first round of testing with hopes to start treatment as soon as 6/15/2019. This is where I am hoping Go Fund me will help out. I am currently on disability through my work which cuts my income in half. My husband and I are barely able to keep the monthly bills under control with all my current medical costs and now with the added travel expense we are going to break the bank, but I have to give MD Anderson a chance, it literally may be the only thing that will save my life. My current goal is for 20000 to help with the costs. I am very grateful for any donations. I am going to be working on setting up a Facebook page, #Cure4Cole, where you can find updates on my testing and progress and I will also keep updating my go fund me page. Thank you again for viewing my page and taking interest in my cause, in me and in saving my life.
**Update on my Story 10/15/2019** I just received my second set of scans and unfortunately the treatment is not working for me. There are not a lot of treatment plans so now any donations will go toward covering current medical costs and possibly for me to live out the last bit of life I have the best way I can. I can't express how much I appreciate all the donations and prayers love and support I have received. You all are a blessing to me!!
Organizer
Nicole Day Barger
Organizer
Lakeland, FL
