Donna 5.0

Hi ,My name is Janet and I am fundraising for my sweet friend Donna who has been Battling Cancer since 2001. Sadly her health has deteriorated throughout the years because of this beast and Unfortunately, She and her Family has been left struggling and in trying to keep up with the bills and everyday expenses in the process. I went to her first with the idea of starting a GoFund page in hopes she would give me her blessing.Although hesitant at first ..but with further thought ,she agreed in allowing me to do this in hopes that we can assist her and the Family.Anyone who knows Donna,..Knows what a good hearted ,humble person she is.A person who thinks of every one else's needs before hers..so lets just say a few wks followed until I was able to start this page up..lol..I asked her to basically share with me some details about her life from beginning to present and she did! I felt it was beautifully written and so detailed that I will share on here in hopes that her words touch your heart like it did mine...Thank you for your time and here we go.......... My name is Donna Barile, I am 52 yrs old.Mother,Wife,Friend and also a Multiple Cancer Survivor.My battle began in 2001 ,at the age of 31. I found a lump in my breast.I never suspected Cancer! I was only 31 yrs old..Breast Cancer doesn't happen to a 31 yr old I thought...Sadly I was wrong! On July 5,2001 my life as a cancer patient began. I was diagnosed with stage 3 TNBC (triple negative breast cancer.. The most aggressive type of course ) it was treated with the standard chemotherapy followed by radiation. I was declared cancer free.

I had genetic testing done to rule out if I was a BRCA gene carrier (relates to both breast and ovarian cancer). Testing came back negative and was told to live my life.

In 2005 I was blessed with a pregnancy. Not one but two babies!!!!! Yes TWINS!!!!!! Anthony and Joseph are the only thing that gives me my strength to get through the daily.

Fast forward to 2012 where cancer struck again but this time with my big sister who was next in line. However her testing revealed she was, in fact, a carrier of the BRCA mutation. (The BRCA gene mutation raises your chances of developing both breast and ovarian cancer). I opted to be retested. Thankfully I listened to my gut, because in March 2013 ,I was found to also be a BRCA gene carrier. My specific mutation has not been scientifically detected which is why my test was not properly diagnosed the first time.. In May of 2013, I had a total mastectomy with total

reconstruction with a DIEP FLAP ( which was a 22 hour surgery). I was bleeding out. It didn’t look good for awhile. It was then that my second breast cancer diagnosis was found. Thankfully surgery was the only treatment necessary.. However, upon my second surgery to finish my reconstruction I decided to have my girl

parts removed and hopefully avoid an ovarian cancer diagnosis. It was Too Late tho, I was now faced with ovarian cancer stage 3A. Lots of chemo, blood transfusions , bowel blockages.... 9 months later, I was cancer free again.

I was closely monitored with monthly blood work and my usual scans and all was going great. That is Until the summer of 2016 when I started to experience some abdominal discomfort. I spoke with my team and we did the usual blood and scans This time we had a lymph node that was cancerous now. I was declared cancer free after some daily radiation for 37 visits. My pet scan tho revealed the cancer was back in yet another lymph node. Summer of 2017 was a blank blur of chemotherapy and doing my own home infusions while sitting in the house or in the sun in the backyard. My CA 125 (which is a tumor marker they use as a tool to hopefully detect a recurrence while

still in the early stages.) slowly started to rise and a scan was ordered. My scan in July 2018 revealed a hot spot in my breast area as well as a 5cm pelvic mass. The first chemo cocktail landed me in the hospital with a partial bowel obstruction . Throughout the next 9 months or so my cancer was rapidly growing even on chemotherapy and we weren’t aware... Now my cancer had spread to my rectum!. Surgery was required to save my life by having my small intestines removed, leaving me with a colostomy for life... But I was friggin alive!. That surgery unfortunately failed and I ended up with a horrible infection inside my wounds and even had to have a second surgery to correct it. This after having to go to a wound care center for treatment as well. I have had a total of 97 chemotherapies to date. That alone could kill a person. I have had multiple

hospital stays due to every obstacle we ran into and there were ALOT!!!!!! In February of this year, I fell on black ice. I have very bad osteoporosis from also having celiac disease and so much chemotherapy. The fall ended up being worse than we thought and it ended up me needing back surgery... basically so I could even out and put my body straight. Recovery was difficult as I was weak from the chemo but had to push through physical therapy to be able to walk correct again. The 5 months of waiting for chemo was the most terrifying. I was not medically cleared to be on chemotherapy so I had to ride my wave.My husband has only been able to work part time. During recent months my husband has been unable to work full time due to him taking care of me, running a house with teenage growing boys. As of this week, we had some devastating news handed to us. I have transferred to hospice for out patient pain management. I am no longer a candidate for chemotherapy. My body can’t handle anymore!. Getting blood transfusions weekly when the chemo isn’t working doesn’t make sense. I have been fighting this 9 year battle with Dignity and Grace and have never had to ask for anything,,.but I am reaching out to my Facebook friends and family today. Watching my husband of 23 years now is heart wrenching knowing how much pain he has endured to watch his wife fight this monster . We have fallen behind financially, school is starting in a few weeks. I am basically slowly dying and all we can do is wait and keep me pain free for a very long time at this point.

We are trying to keep above water, but drowning with each passing day. Sometimes we run two Nickels together praying it turns into a quarter. Any help you can provide will help our family out. I lost my mom to cancer as well, so I’ve been on both sides of the fence and they both are equally shitty.. Please help! Any $ amount is Appreciated. Thank you Facebook friends ..I love you all and I know you will help

pull us through. Blessings always!

DIAGNOSED BREAST CANCER

2001 and 2013

diagnosed 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

MASSIVE PRAYER IS APPRECIATED

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR..xo Donna Barile