I am currently going through a medical crisis. Two years ago I was incidentally found to have masses on my thyroid. They were biopsied but did not meet the criteria for excision at the time. However, at my two year followup biopsy, one of the six masses was found to be suspicious. It has doubled in size and is extending into my chest, and there is still a possibility of malignancy. The masses are now causing all kinds of symptoms as they are pressing on my trachea and esophagus. I also have had abnormal labs.

While my employer, a staffing agency through which I'm employed at the bus garage, has been gracious with time off, it is all unpaid. The procedure may be more complicated as not only do I have the six masses on half of my thyroid going into my chest, I also have an adenoma on my parathyroid, and we're not sure how extensive that is yet. My exhaustion at this time is unlike anything I've ever felt.

A thoracic surgeon will be present during the procedure as they may need to open my chest. Therefore, recovery time and unpaid time off from work could be much longer than expected. It pains me to be in any kind of a position to need help, but anything would help me as my immediate future employment is very uncertain. The position at the staffing agency ends soon as well with the end of school season, so I'll need to obtain new employment as soon as possible after my recovery from surgery.

Thank you for reading my story. Any help would mean the world to me as I am in this uncertain phase of my life and will need additional testing and procedures before the surgery begins. I am doing all I can to keep going in the meantime, but anything to ease this so I am able to rest would be so greatly appreciated.