Donation protected
Surprising us all, this past week our sister Gina was diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell adenocarcinoma.
In December, Gina fell on ice in her driveway--and this was the best thing that could have happened! This fall led to a series of doctors visits and eventually a trip to the ER for severe back spasms. Following an MRI we learned that several vertebrae were fractured or broken, after being weakened over time by cancer.
On Sunday January 29th she had surgery to put spinal concrete into her thoracic vertebrae 7, 9, and 10 to reharden her spine.
Over the next 6 days in the hospital we learned that Gina has tumors on the majority of her vertebrae, a mass in her lung, a spot on her liver, several spots in her pelvic bone, and in her femur. Stunned is not even the word to describe how we have all felt.
But now she is out of the hospital and at home! She has to wear a brace that covers the majority of her upper body for the next 4-8 weeks and is not able to twist, bend, or lift over 10 lbs.
Giving back to the community has been Gina's entire career. For the past seven years she has worked as the Regional Director for the American Heart Association and has ran events such as the annual Southern Tier HeartWalk, GoRed for Women, Run for Your Heart 5K, Heros of Heart, and countless CPR and healthy heart workshops. Prior to working for AHA, Gina worked for nine years at the American Cancer Society where she ran Daffodil Days, Coaches vs Cancer, Relay for Life, and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Now we are asking the community to give back to Gina! For her treatment she will be out of work for at least 6-8 weeks to receive both radiation and chemotherapy. And great news, we know that she was able to get into the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, which is one of the leading cancer research institutes in the world to receive some of her treatment! This means that she and one or two family members need to travel to Boston regularly for evaluations and treatment, driving 6 hours each way and staying in a hotel each trip.
Between the medical bills for being in the hospital, her surgery, the plethora of tests they have run, her upcoming therapy and radiation, trips to Boston, and then bills at home, we are asking for your help!
And very thankfully, Gina is surrounded by more family than she can probably handle! Her husband of 21 years, Dave, is by her side along with our niece Alyssa and nephew Robbie who are both in high school. Our parents will be staying in Vestal for several weeks to help out as well. Maggie lives in Las Vegas with her family, and Nicole lives in Chicago with hers. We have been lucky to be with Gina this whole week to get adjusted to the news and get her settled back in at home. Additionally, she has a large extended family on both sides so her home is always filled with visitors!
And of course Gina's littlest fur babies, Bailey and rabbit EB!
As our big sister, Gina has been a fighter our whole life. She is one of the fiercest people we know and we know she will kick cancer's a**! So now we just need to help raise the funds to make it possible!
Thank you!! We hope you can help!
Nicole and Maggie
In December, Gina fell on ice in her driveway--and this was the best thing that could have happened! This fall led to a series of doctors visits and eventually a trip to the ER for severe back spasms. Following an MRI we learned that several vertebrae were fractured or broken, after being weakened over time by cancer.
On Sunday January 29th she had surgery to put spinal concrete into her thoracic vertebrae 7, 9, and 10 to reharden her spine.
Over the next 6 days in the hospital we learned that Gina has tumors on the majority of her vertebrae, a mass in her lung, a spot on her liver, several spots in her pelvic bone, and in her femur. Stunned is not even the word to describe how we have all felt.
But now she is out of the hospital and at home! She has to wear a brace that covers the majority of her upper body for the next 4-8 weeks and is not able to twist, bend, or lift over 10 lbs.
Giving back to the community has been Gina's entire career. For the past seven years she has worked as the Regional Director for the American Heart Association and has ran events such as the annual Southern Tier HeartWalk, GoRed for Women, Run for Your Heart 5K, Heros of Heart, and countless CPR and healthy heart workshops. Prior to working for AHA, Gina worked for nine years at the American Cancer Society where she ran Daffodil Days, Coaches vs Cancer, Relay for Life, and the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Now we are asking the community to give back to Gina! For her treatment she will be out of work for at least 6-8 weeks to receive both radiation and chemotherapy. And great news, we know that she was able to get into the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, which is one of the leading cancer research institutes in the world to receive some of her treatment! This means that she and one or two family members need to travel to Boston regularly for evaluations and treatment, driving 6 hours each way and staying in a hotel each trip.
Between the medical bills for being in the hospital, her surgery, the plethora of tests they have run, her upcoming therapy and radiation, trips to Boston, and then bills at home, we are asking for your help!
And very thankfully, Gina is surrounded by more family than she can probably handle! Her husband of 21 years, Dave, is by her side along with our niece Alyssa and nephew Robbie who are both in high school. Our parents will be staying in Vestal for several weeks to help out as well. Maggie lives in Las Vegas with her family, and Nicole lives in Chicago with hers. We have been lucky to be with Gina this whole week to get adjusted to the news and get her settled back in at home. Additionally, she has a large extended family on both sides so her home is always filled with visitors!
And of course Gina's littlest fur babies, Bailey and rabbit EB!
As our big sister, Gina has been a fighter our whole life. She is one of the fiercest people we know and we know she will kick cancer's a**! So now we just need to help raise the funds to make it possible!
Thank you!! We hope you can help!
Nicole and Maggie
Organizer
Nicole Darcangelo
Organizer
Vestal Town, NY