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In September 2012, Naomi was originally diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. She had a cantaloupe sized tumor in her pelvis which had metastasized (spread) to both her lungs. Despite all odds, after a year of chemotherapy, radiation, a stem cell transplant, and a whole lot of prayer, Naomi went into remission!
About four years after going into remission, Naomi had graduated college and moved to Hawaii where she met her awesome husband Anthony. Unfortunately, in January 2017 doctors found a baseball size tumor growing in her left abdomen. After surgery to remove the tumor and confirm it was Ewing's Sarcoma again, Naomi did a year of chemotherapy and went into remission again. During that year, Anthony proposed, and they got married on January 12, 2018, a month after she finished chemo!
Naomi and Anthony were enjoying newlywed life and adopted a little German Shepherd named Kiko, but then in October 2018, routine scans showed more tumors growing in Naomi's abdomen. This time the tumors on the left side had completely invaded her kidney, and there were additional tumors forming on her right side. Surgery to remove the tumors also removed Naomi's right kidney and adrenal gland, as well as half of her right adrenal gland. After consulting with the doctors in Hawaii as well as getting a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Naomi decided for forego chemotherapy and wait to see if the cancer would stay away after the surgery.
This worked for a few months! But then in May 2019, scans showed another tumor growing in her abdomen where the left kidney had been removed. Doctors came up with a very promising plan of using internal radiation to stop the cancer from continuing to come back. Then during the surgery, it became clear that the tumor had invaded Naomi's pancreas, and as surgeons had to remove part of that organ, the internal radiation was no longer a viable option.
At this point, Naomi and Anthony started looking for different hospitals to pursue treatment. While they loved Hawaii and Naomi received good care, the benefits of being at a bigger hospital with additional doctors and research opportunities couldn't be ignored. They moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in July, and Naomi started to receive care at Duke University Hospital, one of the best sarcoma centers in the United States.
Plans were made to start radiation to Naomi's pelvis to prevent any new tumor growth, but a scan showed new tumors already growing in her right abdomen between her right kidney and liver. Duke doctors decided a more aggressive treatment plan was necessary, and Naomi started chemotherapy in September and will be receiving radiation as well starting right after Christmas.
Naomi and Anthony are very hopeful that the fifth time is the charm, and this will be the last time Naomi has to go through cancer treatment! The care she has received at Duke has been exceptional, and the doctors are hopeful and optimistic that this treatment plan will help Naomi go into remission for a very long time.
Now the awkward part. Naomi has great insurance - she never needs pre-approval for weird scans or medicines or treatments, and can see any doctor she wants or needs to without having to argue or get referrals. But as Naomi has a very rare type of cancer, all of the doctors she sees and treatment she receives is consider "catastrophic" care. Her deductible each year for this catastrophic care is $5000.
Naomi and Anthony have paid this deductible every year since 2017, and due to the cost of cancer treatment, the deductible is usually met by March at the latest. As newlyweds trying to save for a home and build up savings, the $15,000 they have spent on care in the last three years has made this difficult.
As many people have asked what they can do to help Naomi and Anthony during this time, they are starting this gofundme as a practical way for those who want to help and don't live close to be able to lift some of their financial burden.
Another way to help is to donate blood! Naomi receives between 3-5 blood transfusions every cycle of chemotherapy, and has had over 100 blood transfusion throughout her cancer journey. You can save 2-3 lives with just one blood donation! :)
Lastly, please keep Naomi, Anthony, and their family in your prayers! While Naomi is the one going through the physical treatment, cancer affects family members just as much as the patients, and they can always use an encouraging word, a hug, and lots of prayers.
Thank you to everyone who is able to help!
About four years after going into remission, Naomi had graduated college and moved to Hawaii where she met her awesome husband Anthony. Unfortunately, in January 2017 doctors found a baseball size tumor growing in her left abdomen. After surgery to remove the tumor and confirm it was Ewing's Sarcoma again, Naomi did a year of chemotherapy and went into remission again. During that year, Anthony proposed, and they got married on January 12, 2018, a month after she finished chemo!
Naomi and Anthony were enjoying newlywed life and adopted a little German Shepherd named Kiko, but then in October 2018, routine scans showed more tumors growing in Naomi's abdomen. This time the tumors on the left side had completely invaded her kidney, and there were additional tumors forming on her right side. Surgery to remove the tumors also removed Naomi's right kidney and adrenal gland, as well as half of her right adrenal gland. After consulting with the doctors in Hawaii as well as getting a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Naomi decided for forego chemotherapy and wait to see if the cancer would stay away after the surgery.
This worked for a few months! But then in May 2019, scans showed another tumor growing in her abdomen where the left kidney had been removed. Doctors came up with a very promising plan of using internal radiation to stop the cancer from continuing to come back. Then during the surgery, it became clear that the tumor had invaded Naomi's pancreas, and as surgeons had to remove part of that organ, the internal radiation was no longer a viable option.
At this point, Naomi and Anthony started looking for different hospitals to pursue treatment. While they loved Hawaii and Naomi received good care, the benefits of being at a bigger hospital with additional doctors and research opportunities couldn't be ignored. They moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in July, and Naomi started to receive care at Duke University Hospital, one of the best sarcoma centers in the United States.
Plans were made to start radiation to Naomi's pelvis to prevent any new tumor growth, but a scan showed new tumors already growing in her right abdomen between her right kidney and liver. Duke doctors decided a more aggressive treatment plan was necessary, and Naomi started chemotherapy in September and will be receiving radiation as well starting right after Christmas.
Naomi and Anthony are very hopeful that the fifth time is the charm, and this will be the last time Naomi has to go through cancer treatment! The care she has received at Duke has been exceptional, and the doctors are hopeful and optimistic that this treatment plan will help Naomi go into remission for a very long time.
Now the awkward part. Naomi has great insurance - she never needs pre-approval for weird scans or medicines or treatments, and can see any doctor she wants or needs to without having to argue or get referrals. But as Naomi has a very rare type of cancer, all of the doctors she sees and treatment she receives is consider "catastrophic" care. Her deductible each year for this catastrophic care is $5000.
Naomi and Anthony have paid this deductible every year since 2017, and due to the cost of cancer treatment, the deductible is usually met by March at the latest. As newlyweds trying to save for a home and build up savings, the $15,000 they have spent on care in the last three years has made this difficult.
As many people have asked what they can do to help Naomi and Anthony during this time, they are starting this gofundme as a practical way for those who want to help and don't live close to be able to lift some of their financial burden.
Another way to help is to donate blood! Naomi receives between 3-5 blood transfusions every cycle of chemotherapy, and has had over 100 blood transfusion throughout her cancer journey. You can save 2-3 lives with just one blood donation! :)
Lastly, please keep Naomi, Anthony, and their family in your prayers! While Naomi is the one going through the physical treatment, cancer affects family members just as much as the patients, and they can always use an encouraging word, a hug, and lots of prayers.
Thank you to everyone who is able to help!