Life as we knew it forever chnaged on April 1st 2017.

My journey began on March 31st 2017 when what I assumed would be a simple case of an acid reflux flare up landed me in the hospital for 10 days. This turned out to be one of the most grueling, heartbreaking, and emotionally draining period of me and my families lives. On March 31st, I was made aware by my attending physician that I had become severely anemic whilst also being infected with a commonly known stomach bacteria by the name of H. Pylori (Helicobacter Pylori). H. Pylori can wreak havoc on its hosts digestive system, by first causing bleeding ulcers and if left untreated (which is what happened in my case) it can lead to Stomach Cancer. At the time, I was under the impression that I was just dealing with discomfort due to a previously diagnosed case of Gastritis. I was taking the presctibed medication but couldnt undertsand why I had such a sudden lack of energy, loss of apetite, and constant muscle spasms/cramping. 

After recieving my results that night, the doctor made it very aware that something more serious was going on. He advised me to check in to the ER as soon as possible. I waited until the following morning when the pain and weakness became so unbearable I became increasingly more concerned by the second. 

On April 1st, 2017 I found myself in the ER, I was told after countless testing that I would not be returning home that night. I have a seven year old son at home, and he was my first thought. That very same night, My Red Blood Cells dropped down to such dangerous levels, that I required not 1, but 2 blood tranfusions, in just a matter of hours. The doctors then realized, there must be an internal bleed coming from sowmewhere but they didnt know where. I was then scheduled for an endoscopy, which to our horror revelaed I had grown a large cancerous mass in my stomach. Not only was this mass half the size of my stomach, but it was also making me bleed internally at an alarming rate. This then set into motion what would become the hardest, scariest, and most painful 10 days of my ife. I had a surgeon come to my room that night and he made my husband and I aware that this mass was indeed malignant and that unfortunately it was too large and too advacne to operate, I may have stage 3 or 4 cancer.

I had been a relatively healthy indiviadual all my life. I always had so much energy, was aware of the food I would put in my mouth, and lived life to the fullest. In that moment the only thing I could think about was what would happen to my 7 year old son, he needs his mother. I would face time with him and his sister my first few days in the hospital and having him ask me when I will be coming home and telling me how much he missed me was the most heartbreaking time of my life. After numerous amounts of blood work, CT scans, X Rays I was delivered with the news that would change my life forever. 

On April 6th 2017, I was diagnosed with an advanced form of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. What I thought was a case of a simple gastritis hiccup turned into cancer. My entire life I have prided myself on helping others in need, and now it is my turn. My famiy and I were not prepared for the financial and emotional toll this would take on all of us. Our deductable is through the roof, and this doesnt take into account the cost of doctors visits, medications, chemotherapy treatment, not to mention the now specialized diet I must adhere to. 

All of these expenses are beginning to pile up not to mention the already everday expenses needed to keep my houshold running.  I began my fight against Lymphoma on Apri 7th 2017 with my first round of chemotherapy, and so any donation you would like to give is very much appreciated and my family and I will forever be indebted to you. I will fight this, I will get through this, one day at a time. 

               Thank you, 
                     From The Aquino Family...
                    (Cio, Roxanne, Santiago, and Danielle).