Help give Deanna more time
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As a few of you know, this summer our mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Our family has been in a state of shock and honestly, not able to really wrap our heads around it enough to be able to talk about it. At the beginning of 2018, she began noticing a tingling in her hip area. Over the next couple of months, the pain moved into her legs and it became increasing difficult to walk. The first mass was found on her spine and after further testing, it was discovered that she has masses on her lungs that have spread to her bones and lymph nodes.
In late August, she began a round of radiation on the mass on her spine in the hopes of shrinking it enough that she could begin to walk again a little more freely. The day after her last treatment, she fell, breaking of both her femurs, cracking three vertebrae and right shoulder. Blood clots in both lungs were also discovered in the scans done at the hospital. She underwent surgery and now has metal rods in both legs. This has been a very big setback for her as she was supposed to start chemotherapy the first week of September.
Fortunately, we have had a bit of good news. Her biopsy results reported that her cancer has a genetic mutation that is responsive to a fairly new targeted medication that is in pill form and does not have as severe side effects that chemo does. The bad news is her insurance is refusing to pay for it and it cost upward of $13,000 a month. Without this medication, she will continue to deteriorate and quickly as the cancer is in such an advanced stage. She is not mobile, therefore unable to go to the doctor’s office for treatments.
After many years of waiting, she became a first time grandmother just two years ago. She is fighting hard to have as much time as possible with her grandson who gives her so much joy. She also just learned that her second grandbaby is on the way and she is hopeful that she will be given the time to spend with them.
So many people have our family in their thoughts and prayers, which means so much to all of us. We appreciate any help you are able to give to support our brave, strong mother through this difficult time.
In late August, she began a round of radiation on the mass on her spine in the hopes of shrinking it enough that she could begin to walk again a little more freely. The day after her last treatment, she fell, breaking of both her femurs, cracking three vertebrae and right shoulder. Blood clots in both lungs were also discovered in the scans done at the hospital. She underwent surgery and now has metal rods in both legs. This has been a very big setback for her as she was supposed to start chemotherapy the first week of September.
Fortunately, we have had a bit of good news. Her biopsy results reported that her cancer has a genetic mutation that is responsive to a fairly new targeted medication that is in pill form and does not have as severe side effects that chemo does. The bad news is her insurance is refusing to pay for it and it cost upward of $13,000 a month. Without this medication, she will continue to deteriorate and quickly as the cancer is in such an advanced stage. She is not mobile, therefore unable to go to the doctor’s office for treatments.
After many years of waiting, she became a first time grandmother just two years ago. She is fighting hard to have as much time as possible with her grandson who gives her so much joy. She also just learned that her second grandbaby is on the way and she is hopeful that she will be given the time to spend with them.
So many people have our family in their thoughts and prayers, which means so much to all of us. We appreciate any help you are able to give to support our brave, strong mother through this difficult time.
Fundraising team (3)
Wendy Rumford
Organizer
Sonoma, CA
Chelsea Rumford-Gomes
Beneficiary
Chelsea Rumford
Team member
Shelby Brown
Team member
