Help Ruth Ann Conquer Cancer!

Update [Jan. 2024]: Hello and happy new year! Our deepest thanks to everyone who has donated so far. Ruth Ann's treatments have resumed and she continues to battle significant side effects. So many unexpected challenges come with cancer; for example, her most recent surgical incision is not healing as a result of the chemotherapy and radiation. To protect from infection, Ruth Ann uses specially formulated bandages and adhesives that she changes three times each day. Unfortunately, these supplies — although necessary — aren't covered by insurance.

This is one of the many, many expenses that your generosity helps support. Please continue reading below for a full summary of Ruth Ann's cancer battle so far as we continue to push toward achieving her fundraising goal.

With love and gratitude,

Ruth Ann & family

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Hello, family and friends of Ruth Ann Scott —

Our beloved mom, grandma, friend, coworker and teacher is battling cancer — and cancer is not going down without a fight.

After being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in May 2022, Ruth Ann promptly underwent additional testing, where her genetic profiling revealed the BRCA gene (a marker that increases risk of breast cancer). She then underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments. Shortly after ending treatment and being declared cancer-free in October 2022, she faced a recurrence of this awful cancer in December 2022 and once again underwent procedures including tumor removal, 30 sessions of radiation, a hysterectomy and a twice-daily chemo pill.

Ruth Ann’s medical team again cleared her of cancer in late summer 2023. Just a few weeks after finishing radiation, and while still taking her chemo pill twice a day, Ruth Ann discovered a new mass on her existing scar line. Once again, Ruth Ann underwent surgery. When surgeons removed the tumor, they also removed more tissue in the surrounding area to send to pathology where they found two more very small cancers that did not show up on a CT scan, an MRI or a PET scan. Post-surgery testing revealed the cancer had mutated to a different form: HER2 positive.

After having her chemo port put back in, Ruth Ann began the grueling 12 weeks of weekly 3-hour chemo treatments in November 2023, as well as other injections, which are scheduled to continue for the next year. Side effects in just one month have already been severe, and it’s likely that Ruth Ann’s treatment plan will change again before the end of the year.

To keep her diminished immune system safe and allow herself time to rest and recover from each weekly chemotherapy infusion, Ruth Ann has taken a leave of absence from her beloved students and coworkers at the Special Learning Center. At this time, she likely will not be able to return to work until some time in the spring of 2024, depending on her treatment and diagnosis progress.

We’re hoping to rally the many, many people who love Ruth Ann and ask for your financial support as she navigates a mountain of medical bills and the loss of full-time income. Anything you might be able to donate is so deeply appreciated, as are your prayers, good vibes and healing thoughts.

There’s no question about it: even through this emotional and terrifying fight, Ruth Ann is a warrior. Please help us keep her warrior spirit as strong as possible and we’ll continue to keep you updated as her doctors share new information.

Thank you for your support, strength and love. If anyone can conquer this determined cancer, it’s Ruth Ann — but because of you, she doesn’t have to do it alone.

With love and gratitude,

Katy Schamberger and Adam Ryan, on behalf of Ruth Ann Scott, Len Paccione and our family