Help Tricia's Fight for Life & Financial Hardship

My friend Tricia has been battling terminal, stage 4 colon & liver cancer since she was diagnosed on Dec. 21, 2023. It’s the most aggressive form of this cancer. But her cancer journey actually started before she was diagnosed. Back in August of 2023, she had gone to the ER with severe back and abdominal pain and a fever of 104.7. She was admitted to the hospital with sepsis and was given 12 hours to live. She had 4 IVs going and they were able to save her. She was released from the hospital 11 days later but was still in severe pain that continued to get worse. After 8 weeks, of trying to tough it out, she went to see her primary doctor, who was very concerned and set her up to see a G.I. doctor.

The G.I. doctor called her to discuss the prep for an endoscopy and colonoscopy and told her that as far as the colonoscopy goes, he’d do his best, but it would depend on the size of the tumor. Tricia was completely blindsided. At no time that she was in the hospital (even after they had done 9 CTs) did anyone tell her she had a tumor in her colon. Nor did her primary care doctor. She was shocked to say the least. She was able to have the endoscopy done but the tumor was too big, bigger than a softball, for them to do the colonoscopy. During the procedure they had to put stents in her kidneys due to the tumor pushing things around.

Dec. 18, 2023- port placement was done.

Dec. 19th- biopsies & another CT were done.

Dec. 20- her hemoglobin dropped to 5.8 and she was given an iron infusion and blood infusion.

Dec. 21- she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to liver. It was also the day her employer terminated her for missing too much work, despite valid reasons for missing.

After doing 2 rounds of chemo, her insurance changed and there was a 3-week span before the new insurance company would allow her to start chemo again, at a new hospital with a new doctor. After that 3-week lapse, her tumor had grown and ruptured her bladder. She was sent to the hospital on Feb. 1, 2024, and on Feb. 4th, she underwent surgery to put in a colostomy bag. She was again septic and almost lost her life for the second time.

Shortly before everything happened in August, Tricia went through a difficult divorce. Tricia has 3 children. Her oldest is 19 now but she has a son in high school and her daughter is still in elementary school. Unfortunately, since the divorce, her own family has turned their backs on her and have completely abandoned her. She lost her own mother to cancer, a little over a year ago. So, she’s on her own.

Tricia must have 42 hours of chemo every other week for the rest of her life. Between the chemo and the extreme side effects and exhaustion it causes, she’s not able to work. She has been denied disability because she owned her own business and had to be in business for 5 consecutive years to be eligible for disability. Due to Covid and the nature of her business (nail salon), she had closed her business, like many others had to during Covid. She has applied for SSI, but it is a very slow process, and it could take several months to over a year to get. Tricia is $11K in medical debt and it’s growing weekly. She’s at the point where she has literally run out of money and is now faced with the possibility of being homeless within the next month or two. She’s not even able to afford necessary things she needs for her colostomy, that isn’t covered by insurance. So, that is why I’m setting up this GoFundMe to try and help. Any funds will go directly to Tricia’s account. If you’re able to donate, any amount will help. If you’re not that’s okay, but you can help by sharing this as well. And if you believe in the power of prayer, please keep Tricia in your prayers. Thank you!