On Oct.5, 2018, Beth Abbey entered University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC Shadyside), for cyto reduction surgery due to rare cancer of the appendix. During this surgery, gallbladder, spleen, reproductive organs and some of large and small intestine were removed with liver/stomach scraped of cancer sites; an ileostomy was placed all involving a 14in.incision from sternum to pubic bone. The surgery was immediately followed with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) whereby large amounts of very warm chemotherapy was pumped into the abdomen, sloshed around and drained out. This is not a new procedure but one used to specifically destroy advanced cancer of the appendix, and recently may be considered for ovarian and advanced colon cancers. The risks and recovery are daunting, but long term survival rates are quite encouraging. Only a handful of cancer centers are available for performing this procedure and UPMC does hundreds.

    Unfortunate for Beth, she is one of the few who developed a nightmare of complications for which 3 local hospitals could only offer supportive care as she was directed to return to UPMC for treatment. She is currently at home on TPN - total nutrition given through a large vein, an ostomy bag collects drainage from a fistula, a PEG tube drains any oral liquids out of her stomach bypassing the intestines altogether, and has a 1.5x3 inch open area over her incision which also has a drain.

    To add to the problems, her insurance ran out March 1, and she had to obtain insurance on the NYS Marketplace exchange which does not cover out of network expenses! The INITIAL surgery can run up to $100,000, and Beth is far from recovered.

    The good news is that Beth is fortunate to have a skilled and attentive husband to manage her care and appliances and most importantly, they are people of strong Christian faith.