Donation protected
You all helped Anna beat life threatening brain cancer during Covid 2020. It took years of treatment and rehabilitation therapy, and a village of doctors, nurses and therapists to bring our girl back into the mainstream of life. We are so grateful! Thank you! Thank you! The $31K raised was used for Anna's medical and living expenses for over 3 years of treatment and therapy. We are now ready to close this medical fundraiser and transition to an Educational Fundraiser for Anna. Go here https://gofund.me/572ee806 to donate to her college journey.
Against all odds, in 2023 Anna enrolled in the Arizona College of Nursing and is on her way to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse.
She needs additional financial support from our community of friends to fund her education for the next year. She is unable to work due to the strenuous nature of her studies and clinical work. Her family has chipped in extensively and she still needs at least $1500 per month for car payments, gas, insurance, tuition, uniforms, books and food.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP
Any donation - large or small - will be prayerfully accepted and greatly appreciated!
* You can donate here at GoFundMe (you are not required to leave a GFM "tip)
* Thru Paypal - contact us here on GoFundMe for directions.
MORE ON ANNA'S STORY
Watch this site for updates and details of how Anna has met life's milestones over the past 3 years. We celebrated her 21st birthday in 2024 and her first year of nursing college. It hasn't been easy for Anna, but she has overcome so many obstacles. The surgery, chemotherapy and radiation of her brain and spine affected many things: vision, hearing, coordination, balance and memory. Through intensive physical and cognitive therapy she is functioning well and still needs some accommodation. However her dedication and drive has helped her overcome many of these obstacles. She will be followed for life by St Jude's and medical staff for recurrence or other complications. Meanwhile, she is doing very well in the nursing college and expects to graduate in December 2025 with her RN. After that she will take additional training as an oncology nurse in pediatrics.
We will complete her story during the next few weeks and outline what has happened since our last posts below. And you'll hear directly from Anna on this site as to the courses she is taking and what she is learning in the clinical/hospital settings. It is impressive how quickly she is progressing!
So please, give any amount that is possible for you and all proceeds will be directed to Anna's education and basic living expenses as a student nurse. Thank you all so kindly!
With love and gratitude from her grandparents, Jan & Dick.
ANNA'S ORIGINAL STORY (from 2020)
Our Sweet 16 Anna Christy was suddenly diagnosed on January 28th with high risk, malignant Medulloblastoma , a rare and aggressive childhood brain cancer. She is now fighting for her life with a serious and rare complication of persistent fungal pneumonia in both lungs. This is due to a weakened immune system from chemotherapy. Throughout her chemotherapy starting in May, Anna has been hospitalized 2/3 of the time for blood and platelet transfusions, high fevers and pneumonia. It has been a very rough road but Anna is enduring it with Grace and Hope. Brain cancer and its treatment is hard enough, but this COVID19 pandemic has made it even more excruciating since all comforts, family, friends, school and normal activities have been stripped away. Anna is completely isolated for her safety. We pray that you will send her messages of love and support and help her family through this truly horrific tragedy.
Anna is greatly loved by her family, friends, Great Oak High School students & teachers, the national Horseman Groups and the Temecula community. There is a very long road ahead and we will post updates as she meets challenges & milestones. Below are details of our fundraising efforts, a timeline of her diagnosis & treatment, links to her type of cancer and updates on her progress.
Please leave messages here on GoFundMe
Please share Anna's story with your friends and family. It is so important that thousands of people become supporters, even those who have never met Anna. She is an inspiring teen who has done much good in the world and a model for others of how to to be a truly superb human being. People today need to hear Anna's story and feel they can make a positive difference one person at a time.
HERE IS A TIMELINE and DETAILS of ANNA'S JOURNEY
1/31/20 - After weeks of unusual headaches, Anna underwent an emergency, 10 hour brain surgery (posterior fossa craniotomy ) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles with a top team of neurosurgeons to excise the tumor next to her brain stem. They report the main tumor was successfully removed, however there are many inoperable lesions. This cancer is notoriously invasive and recurring so intensive radiation and chemo are necessary for the next 12 months and beyond. The MRI picture below shows how large this tumor was so it was a difficult and dangerous surgery. Medulloblastoma is a rare, embryonal/primitive tumor representing only 1% of all primary brain tumors.
2/10/20 - After a 10 day hospital stay and numerous procedures, Anna came home and to recover with Mom and Family by her side. She experienced vision and balance problems that the doctors expect to improve with physical therapy and time. Anna is completely aware of her diagnosis, in good spirits and determined to fight the good fight. Her high school enrolled her in Home Hospital so that she can compete her junior year with whatever energy she has during treatment.
2/14/20 - Anna and Mom meet with her new team of pediatric neurology oncologists & radiologists to learn about proton radiation & chemotherapy at Rady's Children's Hospital and the California Protons Cancer Therapy Center . This treatment will be a long, perilous journey for Anna - there are daunting side effects and least of all she will lose all of her beautiful red hair. But she wants to live and has consented to all the treatments. In her own words, "I am going to try to not let this affect my life in a negative way at all. I will continue to fight through and hope for the best outcome."
2/29/20 - Girlfriends take Anna shopping for a Prom dress. She picks out a beautiful, sparkly gown to wear in early May. This is a little "something to look forward to" boost that will help her tough it out during radiation therapy. We're keeping the dress under wraps until she wears it at Prom.
3/2/20 - Anna is accepted as a participant in a St. Jude's Clinical Trial to more aggressively treat Medulloblastoma. This program is in partnership with Rady's Children's and the Protons Center. Her tumor is sent to St. Jude's for advanced genetic testing to further their research and help other kids. Learn more about St. Jude's Trial.
3/5/20 - Anna's first Proton Radiation Therapy session. This is a 5 day a week treatment for 6 weeks. She is secured with a mesh mask and body mold so that she does not move during the radiation process. Her entire brain and spine are treated with precise beams to kill fast growing cancer cells. Learn more about Proton Beam Therapy. After only one session, Anna is already feeling the effects of nausea and fatigue. She and Mom are staying at the Ronald McDonald House nearby during treatment.
3/15/20 - California is under a Stay-at-Home Order effectively quarantining Anna and Mom from everyone including close friends and family members. COVID 19 could be deadly to Anna with her compromised immune system from the radiation. The hardest thing is no beach walks to help lift her spirits and get fresh air. Sadly, school and Prom are cancelled. ) :
3/26/20 - Anna loses all her beautiful red hair to the radiation treatment. It is a hard road, nothing fun about it. Her skin is red and irritated from the radiation as well. Its lonely being quarantined, no place to go to be distracted from the fatigue and nausea.
4/16/20 - Anna "graduates" from RADS (Proton Radation) Therapy with Dr. McEwan dressing up as a "cowboy". Anna rings the Life is Beautiful Bell in celebration and goes home to recover in preparation for the next phase, chemotherapy. Anna is happy about leaving radiation, but the side effects have been building up for 6 weeks and linger on.
5/14/20 - Anna's lumbar puncture delivers good news that the cancer has not spread to her spine, but she suffers side effects from the procedure for weeks.
5/27/20 - Anna is surprised with a "drive-by" 17th Birthday Party at Wallen West Farms. Watch the fun here: https://vimeo.com/423821232
6/4/20 - Anna starts an arduous regime of chemotherapy at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego and begins a revolving door journey of hospitalization for weeks for side effects ranging from fevers to infections. We have lost count of the many procedures, medications and treatments to mitigate the effects of chemo.
7/10/20 - Second round of chemotherapy over 3 days that she tries to sleep through, but again, is re-hospitalized within days with pneumonia and the need for many pints of blood. Thank you to all blood donors for saving her life! Anna endures more scans, procedures and anesthesia, it all takes a toll.
7/20/20 - Hospitalized again after a chemotherapy "boost" with fever and pneumonia setting in with a vengeance requiring oxygen 24 hours a day. Pulmonology doctors recommend that Anna move to seaside residence instead of Temecula home as the moist, clean ocean air would help her lungs heal. We are looking for a generous donor/owner of beachfront property in San Diego County so she can be quarantined safely until pneumonia is conquered. We are told this type may take a very long time to diminish.
ABOUT ANNA
Anna's Fundraising Postcard
Many of you know Anna as a junior at Great Oak High School in Temecula, California with many wonderful friends. She is an outstanding student and was recently accepted into Advanced Placement for her senior year - a great honor. Anna has been a lifelong horse lover/rider/competitor and teaches young children the basics of horseback riding at Wallen West Farms and Riding Academy (aka "The Barn.") It's her favorite hang out place. She attends many horse shows in the Southwest both as a catch rider and a handler. She is an animal lover and devoted to the welfare of all animals, including her dog Breezy and kitties Rory & Emmy. Anna dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse and horse trainer. She is the most loving, sweet girl and will turn 17 in May.
Please join "Anna's Angels Campaign" and donate generously to Anna's cause. Thank you so much and God Bless You All!
LINKS
VIDEOS
more videos will be posted soon
PHOTOS
January 31 - Tumor surgically removed
Feb 1 - Anna in the PICU on her way to post surgery MRI. So many IVs, tubes and monitors. She is being well cared for by teams of skilled & compassionate pediatric nurses.
Feb 1 - "ChoCho" the Therapy Dog visits Anna in her bed. He is blind and deaf but sweet and soft so Anna enjoyed petting his little head.
Feb 4 - Standing up for the first time aided by Physical Therapists. Excess fluid draining thru tube at back of head.
Feb 5 - Happy to be out of bed and sitting in chair. Small victories!
Feb 5 - Auntie Jillian comes to visit and make some Snapchat fun
Feb 6 - Apatite is back - yummy waffles. Eye patch helps Anna orient better as she is experiencing double vision from the surgery.
Feb 9 - Anna has a visit from Charlie, the therapy dog. All the dogs at CHLA have their own "business cards" so the kids collect them to remember the visits.
Organiser
Dick and Jan Mathews, Grandparents
Organiser
Temecula, CA