When Priscilla was 14 years old she lost her mother to stomach cancer. At the time she didn’t know much about the origin of the cancer.  After the death of her mother, she lost touch with her mom’s side of her family. A few months ago she reconnected with some of her family and learned of the E-cadherin gene mutation, also known as CDH1 mutation, that had caused her mom’s cancer. She found out that the CDH1 mutation had plagued much of her family and she was urged to get tested for the mutation. 


In October, she underwent genetic testing and found out she indeed did have the mutation. This news was devastating for her. After speaking with doctors and genetic counselors, she had learn how deadly this form of cancer is. By the time someone starts showing signs and symptoms, they have no chance of recovery. She was told it’s not a matter of “if” she gets it, it’s a matter of “when.”


With all of that hard-hitting information Priscilla decided to take the doctor’s advice and schedule surgery to have her stomach removed. This is her only option for avoiding this horrific disease. Her surgery is scheduled for March 1. Along with getting her stomach removed, she will be getting a jejunostomy tube and a nasogastric tube placed to get her nutrition until she is able to  slowly start eating food again. Everything about her lifestyle will change even after she is able to start eating again, but she will be getting the chance at life that her mother never did. 


Her hospital stay will be 7-10 days but that will only be the beginning of the recovery process. She is being told she may be out of work for over 6 months. Priscilla’s income is vital to her family and that is where we need to help out. She needs to have money for her and her family to live on without it being one more thing to stress about during this difficult time.