Hello my name is Jade. I am 31 years old and for the last 12 years I have lived with my boyfriend Blake in Indiana. We have 2 girls together ages 7 and 10. My oldest daughter is 15 and was adopted by my sister when she was 3.

Back in January I started swelling but I thought I was just gaining weight. Some time around May, I got a cut on my leg that I noticed was having trouble healing complicated by the fact the I was still swelling, really bad in my legs. I kept the cut clean and bandaged.

Around August 20, I tripped on my dog Cali, she’s a German shepherd, and I fell hitting my back on the bed post. My back hurt, but once I got up and got moving I was doing ok.

On August 26 my back was hurting so bad that Blake insisted I go to the hospital so we went to the Emergency Room. Therapy swelling in my legs had worsened, causing blisters and causing the cut in my leg to open up into what looked like a hole. While in the ER they did X-rays, a CT scan and a lot of blood work. They told me I needed to be admitted and transferred to the hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. They explained I needed surgery on my leg to clean out the wound. They also told me that I had 11 fractures in my back, 7 in my T-spine and 4 in my L-spine and even more concerning was a large mass on my adrenal gland which according to the radiologist, was concerning for cancer. Therapy adrenal glands are these little “nuggets” that sit on top of each kidney and they do a lot of things including helping to regulate blood pressure, regulating the salt/water/potassium balance in the body (which would help explain the swelling) regulating the body’s response to stress by releasing adrenaline and cortisol. Cortisol also plays a role in regulating blood sugar.

My blood pressure was extremely high in the hospital as well as my blood sugar. They did surgery to clean out the wound on my leg which contained, by that time, necrotic(dead) tissue. I was lucky that hadn’t spread to my bone because I would have lost my leg. They also did 2 different biopsies of the mass. They first one came back that the mass was necrotic(again, dead tissue) but the second one came back positive for ACC or adrenocortical carcinoma. This is a very rare and aggressive cancer. Right now there is still a lot of information we don’t know. They found lesions on my spine which are suspicious for cancer. It was explained that only 2 of the fractures in my back are actually from my fall. The other 9 could be related to electrolyte deficiencies (calcium, magnesium, potassium)or they could be “pathologic” related to metastatic disease. I will be having a bone biopsy to determine that in the next couple weeks. I am on multiple blood pressure medications and my blood pressure is improved, yet still very high. My blood sugar is still high so now I am considered diabetic. I am wearing a large back brace called a TLSO brace.

We know I will need another surgery to remove the adrenal mass in the coming weeks and there has been talk of a possible back surgery.

I am very uncomfortable and I need help just to even get in my bed and to shower and get dressed. I can’t do regular household chores like laundry and dishes. I can’t play outside with the girls. I used to work cleaning houses to help Blake financially and I am unable to do that. I have multiple appointments just trying to figure this all out. Blake has to take time off work to drive me because I can’t drive with a broken back. We’re spending a lot on gas going to and from appointments in Louisville and while Blake’s employer is understanding that he is helping me through this crisis, his time off is without pay. Next week I have multiple appointments on multiple days so that will be a lot of unpaid time off and I can’t contribute financially right now.

We don’t know the plan yet for my cancer other than the surgery to remove my adrenal glands.

I am asking for any help you can contribute. I’m going to fight like hell to get through this and any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.