Fighting Breast Cancer with Dana
Beschermde donatie
My mother, Dana, has always had a flare for life. She is a true firecracker, and I would anything to keep that fire burning. We had it all ready. Dana was going to finally move to North Carolina into her dream home. After living thousands of miles apart for 15 years, my mom and I were going to be reunited. Thank goodness for technology that has kept us so close but talking multiple times on the phone every day has its limitations. We were so excited to live closely and do the everyday life things together – cooking, taking Charlie for walks, holidays, watching shows, crafts!
Two weeks before getting the keys in hand for her home in North Carolina, Dana was diagnosed with stage IIIC breast cancer. Having a 6-inch tumor and 6 positive lymph nodes, the diagnosis has been a shock to all. Currently living in Seattle, Dana has started her treatment at Swedish Medical Center and has had a rough time since day one. While getting her port (a magical, little device that is inserted in your collarbone to be accessed for IV fluids and treatments, instead of affecting veins in arms with the caustic chemotherapy medicine) placed, there was a complication. The surgeon punctured her lung which resulted in a collapsed lung and a week of hospitalization. This delayed beginning chemotherapy and caused extreme pain and strain on Dana’s body. After healing, Dana began chemotherapy. After her first round, her white blood counts were critically low (she was at 20, when 500 is considered low), resulting in a few days of out-patient hospitalization to get those numbers back up.
Set on 16-weeks of chemotherapy, then surgery, followed by radiation and hormonal therapy we are looking forward to the day that Dana will be cured. Until then, we are attempting to juggle navigating this new way of life, which entails transferring her care, affording relocation costs, chemotherapy treatments, medications, paying for both Seattle rent and a new mortgage, the anticipated mastectomy, radiation, reconstructive surgery, and hormonal therapy costs has been more than anticipated.
Through it all, Dana continues to navigate this with determination and hope that soon she will be settled in a home where she can be taken care of and have a support system to fight cancer together.
Two weeks before getting the keys in hand for her home in North Carolina, Dana was diagnosed with stage IIIC breast cancer. Having a 6-inch tumor and 6 positive lymph nodes, the diagnosis has been a shock to all. Currently living in Seattle, Dana has started her treatment at Swedish Medical Center and has had a rough time since day one. While getting her port (a magical, little device that is inserted in your collarbone to be accessed for IV fluids and treatments, instead of affecting veins in arms with the caustic chemotherapy medicine) placed, there was a complication. The surgeon punctured her lung which resulted in a collapsed lung and a week of hospitalization. This delayed beginning chemotherapy and caused extreme pain and strain on Dana’s body. After healing, Dana began chemotherapy. After her first round, her white blood counts were critically low (she was at 20, when 500 is considered low), resulting in a few days of out-patient hospitalization to get those numbers back up.
Set on 16-weeks of chemotherapy, then surgery, followed by radiation and hormonal therapy we are looking forward to the day that Dana will be cured. Until then, we are attempting to juggle navigating this new way of life, which entails transferring her care, affording relocation costs, chemotherapy treatments, medications, paying for both Seattle rent and a new mortgage, the anticipated mastectomy, radiation, reconstructive surgery, and hormonal therapy costs has been more than anticipated.
Through it all, Dana continues to navigate this with determination and hope that soon she will be settled in a home where she can be taken care of and have a support system to fight cancer together.
Organisator
Missy Olson Lloyd
Organisator
Matthews, NC