Help a Student Mother Fight Cancer

Hi and thank you for supporting me by viewing and sharing my page. I’m raising funds to contribute toward the cost of treatment, including chemotherapy, that I’m currently undergoing for ovarian cancer. Fortunately, I have student health insurance as I am a student in PA school at the wonderful Nova Southeastern University - Ft. Lauderdale! However, I still have to pay a portion out of pocket myself as well. I’m sure if you’re here you know I’m also a mother to the most incredible little 4-year-old daughter, so funds can get tight for a student, especially with a child. I humbly ask for any support you can manage, whether it’s sharing my page with others, donating even $1, or keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. If nothing else, thank you for showing me love and support. I have been incredibly blessed by the people in my life, from my family, to friends, to classmates, and my program. I can’t begin to express the profound difference that has made in these last few months. It is this support that has allowed me to continue to be a present mother, a student continuing to attend my clinical rotations, and a cancer warrior; and has given me the privilege to do it all with a smile on my face and a full heart. So thank you to each and everyone who plays a role in that ❤️

My story:

In August, I began experiencing my stomach growing larger. I went to see my doctor and they believed I had developed PCOS as I had stopped getting my cycles around this time out of nowhere, I was obese, and I was getting hormonal acne and hair on my face. They explained insulin resistance or inflammation and bloating could also cause my stomach to bloat. A CBC and CMP were done at this time but no additional labs or imaging as they said it was a clinical diagnosis. In late September, I went back with similar issues and an occasional sharp pain that lasted for a couple of seconds on my right pelvic area when I was walking a lot. This time they palpated my pelvic area and it was positive for pain on the right; they said it was a ligament that was bothering me and would resolve on its own.

In October, I still saw my stomach growing and began looking pregnant like I had with Alaina. One day, I got this sharp pain on the right side again but it stayed for about 4 hours. I went to the ER for the pain and it was discovered that I had a 26cm ovarian mass on CT that was suspicious for malignancy. I was admitted and had an open abdominal surgery to remove the tumor. He had to do this approach because the tumor was actually 32cm (12.5 inches)! I recovered at home for 3 weeks and went back to my rotations in November. They were very optimistic based on my age that it would be a benign borderline ovarian tumor and surgery would be enough to manage.

Unfortunately, it was discovered after the tumor was sent out to 2 different pathology labs that it was actually an ovarian adenocarcinoma of epithelial origin, grade 2, but luckily stage 1! Based on my age, the grade and size of the tumor, as well as how quickly it grew, my surgeon and my oncologist felt chemotherapy was necessary as well as genetic testing. So that brings us to today, I’m being closely followed by both of my amazing doctors and today I started my first of 4 infusions over the next 3 months. I get one 6-hour infusion every 3 weeks, so not too bad. I have even met my first friend ☺️

Prior to surgery, both my LDH and CA125 were elevated and are now back within normal range and my first PET scan was unremarkable! Yay!

That’s all for now, and thank you again!

Some photos of my family & me in PA school!