Danielle's Cancer Recovery Fund
On March 23rd, 2016 I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer. Nothing could have prepared me for that day and the weeks to come. I was admitted into the hospital on April 11th to remove my entire thyroid, 2 large tumors, and all the lymph nodes in the middle of my neck. The tumors were so close to my vocal chords that we were not sure if I would be able to talk again after the surgery. Thankfully, you can't keep my loud mouth shut. 
^After surgery... same goofy self!
The surgery was successful and didn't experience any complications, but they found that the cancer did spread to some of my lymph nodes. Due to this, I will have to undergo a few rounds of a Radioactive Iodine treatment and go into isolation for a two-week period. This treatment will hopefully kill any remaining cancer that couldn't be removed through surgery. The surgery and hospital stay costs a little over $40,000 and the Radioactive Iodine treatment averages $25,000. Additionally, the removal of my thyroid requires me to take two synthetic thyroid hormone and calcium medication to stay alive. This will cost me around $55 a month for the rest of my life. 
^My AMAZING surgeon, Dr. Iloabachie
Before being diagnosed with cancer, I worked full-time as a Community Director overseeing a Residence Hall at Texas A&M University - Commerce, paying off student loans, and saving for my future. Understandably I work in public education and I'm not making loads of money, but I was comfortable. I have only worked in the state of Texas for 10 months and that means I do not qualify for FMLA. I have been able to use my personal sick and vacation leave, but that is soon running out and may run the risk of losing my only source of income while I'm in recovery. 
^I love and miss my students every single day!
I have exhausted my savings and decided I needed to stop being stubborn and ask for help. Anyone who knows me knows I hate asking for help or admitting I am defeated, but I am worried about all the bills piling up between hospital bills, prescriptions, doctors visits, labs and tests; I am hoping to avoid getting too far into debt at only 25 years old.
I am desperately seeking your help in donating and sharing my fund and story as I focus on becoming healthy and happy again. Whether you can donate $10, $100, or $1,000 [a girl can dream right ;)] - EVERY PENNY COUNTS!
Thank you! 
^My scar tells a story
UPDATE:
Sorry I haven't updated the story since the beginning. I completed my first round of Radioactive Iodine in May 2016. Isolation is by far the worst part of this whole experience. To not experience any other life around you for two weeks is maddening, and caused me to truly spiral into depression. I began to process what was happening for the first time. I have since been actively in counseling and on medication for depression. I am not ashamed of either of these things, and I wished more people talked about it! It's safe to say radiation has been successful... My superpowers kicked in when I accidently ripped my refrigerator door off when I was in isolation.
^HULK SMASH!
Fast forward to March 2017, I went to MD Anderson Cancer Center because I was lucky enough to get the attention of the best doctor in the nation for my type of cancer, Dr. Sherman. He and his team found that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. In June 2017, I had a lateral neck dissection removing 22 lymph nodes. After testing the 22 lymph nodes, we found that 6 of them were cancerous! 
^Heading home after neck dissection June 2017
I moved back to my homestate of Florida to be closer to loved ones and work on my mental health. I am in a much better place, but still have to be viligiant with my cancer treatment. I have tried to transfer care to Florida, but I have been unimpressed with the level of care. I have decided to continue my care with Dr. Sherman and MD Anderson. The hard part with this is that my insurance no longer covers my trips to MD Anderson since I am in Florida now. 
^My trip to MD Anderson in December 2017