Help Daye Beat Cancer!!

Hi Everybody! My name is Daye Jackson and I am a 44 year old cancer patient (for now but not for long).

This chapter of my life started on August 23rd, 2022 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer. My life changed completely in the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Winder, Georgia. My results showed 2 tumors in my liver which meant it was stage 4. I made an appointment with Oncologist, Dr. Christina Saurel in Braselton where she told me that I had a 30% chance of survival. I was devastated. 30% chance. I'm only 43 years old. This couldn't be happening to me. But it was and that's when my life changed.

I had to go on disability leave from my job at The Dollar Tree. Thank God I had taken out the short and long term disability. And I had really good health insurance. Maybe I was gonna be ok, at least financially, through this. That was a plus.

I had a colonoscopy on September 15, 2022. The results of it were finding a 10cm tumor in my rectum. The surgeon wanted me to admit myself in the hospital for surgery that Monday because I was almost completely blocked. I promised to go home on diet of Boost (chocolate's my favorite) and check myself in Monday. Monday came quickly and I was so nervous and scared. But into surgery I went, regardless. I came out of surgery with a brand new colostomy bag and minus my ovaries. They were so enlarged that they were 3 times the size they should be, completely full of colon cancer. My stay in the hospital was actually peaceful and a great learning experience. I was disgusted by the thing on my stomach and the bag that covered it. I didn't even want to look at it. The nurses at the hospital went over a little bit on how to take care of it but most of the learning was done by self education. And once the stitches came out I really was at ease with my new extension. Now I find it fascinating and actually bearable.

After my surgery for my port placement, I started my chemotherapy sessions. My treatment plan consists of 12 sessions of Folfox chemo for 36 hours every 2 weeks. My side effects are minimal, which is a blessing. Neuropathy is the one I experience the most in my hands, feet, and face. I sometimes get blisters in my mouth, and my hair has thinned but other than that, I feel pretty awesome. I may take naps now and can't do all the things that my independent self wants to do but I'm learning to let people help me. I was down to 109 pounds when I was diagnosed and now I'm a hefty 128.

In December, I completed my 6th session of chemo and went for a CT scan. The results of this were truly wonderful. The main tumor in my liver is down by half it's size and the smaller one cannot be seen. My faith in God is 100% now and I know he's keeping me here to do his work. I don't know exactly in what way yet but he will guide me. I can't wait to find out how. I'm so excited!

The turn of the year came and I received a call from my doctor that they sent for my approval for my next chemo session to my insurance and they denied it. I immediately called to find out that my leave had been exhausted from The Dollar Tree and I no longer had health insurance. The security I had with good healthcare was just shot to death. I had to apply for Cobra which I found out started in October but I never received the packet to fill out to handle the transition smoothly. They tell me that I owe $1820 dollars that has to be paid before I have health insurance coverage again. Now have stage 4 cancer that is responding well so far and be told you don't have insurance until you save up the money while only having disability as income. I'm scared. Scared of what medical help I won't be able to receive and my progress to start fading away. I have received some financial assistance through my doctor's office for a short time so my chemo doesn't have to stop. But I am now waiting on a appointment with the liver doctor, in Atlanta, to discuss surgery to remove my tumors while having a vehicle that is not in the best of shape.

Anything that I am blessed with will be paid forward for the rest of my life, happily and graciously.

Everyone who donates will receive a handwritten thank you card from me so please send me your address.