Cancer sucks, but Love Heals

In 2005 I was diagnosed with stage 4 Leiomyosarcoma, after finding a 12.5cm tumor in my vena-cava I was told that there was nothing that could be done. Luckily for me we were able to find an amazing surgeon in University of Penn who was willing to do the surgery. After a seven hour open heart procedure the doctors removed the tumor and rebuilt my vena cava. It was a true miracle. I was blessed with 5 years free of disease but unfortunately this rare cancer did come back with vengeance. Over the past 4 years I have had 2 rounds of chemo sessions; two 30 day cycles of radiation; and 6 surgeries to remove many tumors (3 lung surgeries, a spine surgery, a liver surgery and a tumor removed from under my right arm). As of right now, I have active tumors in both lungs, my liver, my pelvis area, my stomach and my pelvis and I am highly allergic to the chemo that is the best option for this type of cancer. My options are limited and Cancer Treatment Centers of America are deviating from protocol and looking at anything that could provide a possible solution. I am taking Votirent at this time which is a tumor progression management drug but the response is not what we were hoping.
At this point I leave it in God's hands and I have faith in whatever it is that he has in store for my life, as always I have faith in his divine plan.

I have agonized over this for a while now and many things keep bringing me back to this fundraising. I have worked very hard throughout my entire life and have tried my best to give my children a good life. The hardest part for me is the thought of not being here for my children and grandchildren. With the money that is raised here I would like to help my daughter get a good start in her life and help her with her wedding and with the other half I would like to take my kids and grandkids away on a real family vacation to Disney world or somewhere fun together.

The thing that I miss more than anything is working. I have always been a very hard worker, working one or two jobs at a time or running my own business 6 or 7 days a week. Luckily I do get disability and that covers my health Ins., prescriptions, car expenses and some personal bills. But little is left over for anything else including recommended supplements and alternative treatments. At this point, the thing that will give me the most joy would be to help my daughter and her children get a good start in their young lives and to be able to take some time away from all the stress we have all had over these past four years and just go somewhere together and have fun while I am still well enough to enjoy them. I thank you for taking the time to read my story and thank you for, if nothing else, your prayers for me and my children and grandchildren.

With much love and gratitude,
Helen