Help Sandy Win The Fight Against Stage 4 Cancer

Update September 7, 2023:

I am grateful to report that Sandy’s current immuno therapy treatment is showing improvement in the shrinkage of the tumors. Trials/studies have found this type of therapy is most effective for triple negative breast cancer. However, this causes her white blood cell count to drop, requiring her doctors to give an injection to increase her bone marrow. The medicine is administered via a patch on her arm and worn for 24 hours. As expected, her overall spirit & mood have declined as a result of being sick. She has been experiencing flu like symptoms, including body aches and nausea. She has a hard time eating or keeping food down. During all this, she has still been struggling to power through working, as she cannot financially afford not to. Doctors have informed her she will likely need to undergo a mastectomy in the near future. So she is trying to hold off on applying for disability to enable her to use that for recovery from the surgery. Between rent, monthly bills and caring for her school-aged daughter, things have become almost unbearable for her. I thank all of you for your generosity. And I ask that you please continue to forward this link to anyone you know that may be able to help. If there was ever a time where we need to look to community for support, it is now.

Update May 12, 2023:

Thank you for everyone’s contributions this far. Sandy has been truly touched by the outpouring of love & support from each and every one of you. Unfortunately, her visit to Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) did not yield any new options. She was informed by research doctors that there are currently no clinical trials being held that she qualifies for. However, we have not given up hope & are looking into trials at neighboring facilities. Sandy is pushing through daily & asks to continue to be kept in everyone’s prayers ❤️.

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On November 23, 2022 after experiencing breast pain, Sandy scheduled an appointment with her primary care doctor. Tests showed a 7.1 cm tumor that was determined to be malignant. Not long after, she learned the tumors had spread to her lungs & she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

It is the type of cancer she has that poses a bigger challenge. Triple negative cancer is uncommon —only 12% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have this form. These cells have no receptors & therefore don’t respond to treatment like typical cancer cells. Which makes it more difficult to cure.

To date, she has undergone 12 rounds of chemotherapy with the breast tumor shrinking by only 1 cm. She is now on immunotherapy treatment in hopes that it will further shrink the tumors. She has applied for acceptance into clinical trials at Memorial Sloane Kettering & is awaiting a decision.

Unfortunately, illness doesn’t exempt you from having to support yourself. Sandy has continued to work full time as a Mental Health Tech. All while struggling daily with weakness, nausea, & anxiety due to stress.

For those of you who may not know Sandy, it’s important to state she is a fighter. She is not this disease. She is a dedicated mother of three, grandmother, daughter, sister & friend. She loves all things beauty/fashion & she is just as fabulous now as she ever was.

But she needs our help. She has dedicated her life to helping others. Now we’re asking everyone who can, to please return the favor. This fundraiser will help alleviate some of the financial strain put on her & allow her to take time off work to re-build her immune system while staying on top of bills.

It will not be an easy journey so we are asking for all your support, prayers & donations to help Sandy overcome this. Let's spread the word and positivity.