Help Alexis Battle Cancer!    #HopeStrengthLove  
 
 “You have cancer”.

Just weeks after turning 33 on June 28, 2019, Alexis, our sister and a young mother with one young child and three young   step-children, heard these horrifying words. 

                                                       
Alexis went to the doctor for pain in her right arm.  The abrupt diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer.  With no family history and testing negative for the “BReast Cancer” (BRCA) gene, this came as a shock  to the entire family.

On August 7th, 2019 Alexis had her first of two surgeries:  a complete mastectomy of the right breast to remove the deadly tumors, with an expander inserted to enlarge her chest wall and left reduction and node removal.


Surgery went well! On August 13th, 2019 Alexis received her pathology report:  Cancer presently has NOT spread to her lymph nodes!  She was diagnosed Stage 1, only with the grace of God on her side.  

Her second surgery (surgery date pending) will consist of complete mastectomy and reconstruction of both breasts.              Alexis may also need to undergo surgery for a complete hysterectomy to help ensure her hormone  receptive cancer does not return.  This will hopefully occur in October or November, 2019.  She also may need to undergo chemotherapy                      treatment and has a long road ahead of her.  She will receive painful saline injections each week and will begin hormone suppression therapy for the next 5 to 10 years since her cancer is hormone receptive.

Throughout these trying times, Alexis and family received a tremendous amount of emotional and logistical support from   amazing friends, family, coworkers and our wonderful Southern Maryland community and beyond.  Alexis and her family    are extremely grateful for everyone bringing meals over, helping care for Alexis and  accomplish tasks such as washing her  hair, numerous daily chores, taking the children out for activities and simply visiting her, loving on her and offering                    continued comfort.

Unfortunately, Alexis’s journey with cancer is not over yet, with many challenges and obstacles still ahead.  She still needs even more support and help from all of us. 



WE are her team.

Alexis worked every day leading up to her first surgery and is now on short-term disability through December, possibly later, to allow healing from what we hope will be her final surgery.  

While Alexis has medical insurance, there are significant gaps in what is covered.  Her short-term disability allowance which is a fraction of her regular hourly wage, coupled with her out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays, expensive medications and transportation costs to VA and DC, continue to loom. 

Please continue to help us rally around Alexis and her family to assist in providing them with relief from cancer-induced financial burden and/or other ways that you may be able to provide.  

Our hope:  with your additional love Alexis and her family’s basic and most important needs will continue to be met while  maximizing her energy and focus on treatment, healing and recovery.

To some, small donations may seem like a tiny act of goodwill.  To Alexis and her family all contributions will be received as tremendous acts of love, kindness and generosity.    

Thank you for your willingness to support this wonderful family.  All donations will go directly to her care and support.

Sincerely,

Team Alexis

#HopeStrengthLove