Donate to Dr. Annie Derrell's Journey to Stay Cancer-Free

Howdy, all.

My name is Dr. Annie Derrell and my story starts back in 2015, when I was diagnosed with stage IV endometrium cancer and given 6 months to live. Clearly, I have way surpassed my "expiration date," but to say life has been a constant battle ever since is an understatement.

I first went into remission in 2018, only for my cancer to come back in 2020 amidst the pandemic. I was back in remission by the end of 2021, but last August (2024) we found that I had developed ovarian cancer. Fortunately it was very early stage and I went on a course of chemotherapy (carboplatin), which knocked it out. But with my history, and the chances of reoccurrence high, my medical team decided it was finally time for me to have a complete hysterectomy. They had put it off and avoided it for nearly 10 years...longer even, considering I have a long history of aggressive and severe endometriosis (which eventually turned malignant, causing my endometrium cancer). At first the reason was because I had no living children. Then they said I was too young. Now, on the eve of my 41st birthday, it is finally happening and I am part dread, part relief, and all anxiety.

My recovery time will be 6-8 weeks, with no complications. I am an adjunct history professor, so the summer is the only time I can really get such a major procedure done, but it also comes at a time when I have no income at all coming in and won't until September. I am under extreme financial hardship due to all this. The bills keep coming and I literally have no way to pay for them right now.

All who know me, know that I am a stubbornly proud person, who prides themselves on never asking for help... But this time is different. I am humbling myself and literally begging for any support that can be provided. Even if all you can do is send me your thoughts and prayers, I am extremely grateful to you. If you cannot donate, but can share this fundraiser, I am also extremely grateful. And for any who can and do donate...? Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, with all my love, thank you so very much. It is so hard for me to ask for help. Words cannot even express how grateful I am for it.

In the past 10 years since I was originally diagnosed with cancer, I have undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, multiple surgeries, bought (and sadly had stolen and lost) a car, completed graduate school for history, earned a prestigious fellowship, earned my Ph.D., lost my mother to breast cancer, survived a pandemic, gotten married to the love of my life (who has to live half the country away from me because his job is providing me the health insurance I literally NEED to live; I absolutely LOVE my job but it pays below the poverty line and has no benefits), taught hundreds of students at four different colleges... I have lived a very full life for someone who was told they would die in 6 months. This is, I hope and pray, the final surgery I will need to be and STAY cancer free. This surgery literally has the potential to not only save, but dramatically better my life. To all the many people who have loved and supported me through this decade long journey, you mean the world to me and I would not still be here today without each and every one of you. So many times I have felt like I just could not possibly go on, and you all have insured I have with your love and encouragement. I know this is a lot to ask, but if you could please help me out, in any way, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you all so very much.