Help Houston Teacher Fight Cancer
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During the Fall of 2014, Mrs. Ojeda was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer. What started as a bad cough and misdiagnosis, turned into an ongoing battle with cancer that spread to her liver and now the brain.
Within days of her initial 2014 diagnosis, Mrs. Ojeda started an aggressive chemotherapy schedule, taking three different types of chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumors. She had two tumors the size of oranges in her liver and one growing in her colon. Months of grueling chemotherapy paid off, and in March of 2015, the doctors removed half of her liver and part of her colon. The next year and a half brought mixed news. A few months after a second surgery in July, the doctors found the cancer in her lung, and she stopped the chemotherapy to start radiation therapy. The radiation was successful, but an MRI found the cancer in the back of her abdomen, and she was right back on a new cycle of chemotherapy. This chemotherapy was successful, and the CT scans finally showed Mrs. Ojeda was cancer-free. Her doctors gave her a few weeks to recover, but given the aggressive nature of cancer, they scheduled her for maintenance chemotherapy for the rest of 2016.
In April of 2017, doctors noticed an abnormality on her skull, but complications with insurance caused a delay in an MRI and treatment schedule. In late-May, Mrs. Ojeda ended up in the emergency room where doctors confirmed metastasis to the skull. She started two rounds of radiation, but the treatment was unsuccessful, and the cancer metastasized to the jaw and lumbar region.
Despite four new cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer spread to the brain.
Mrs. Ojeda is a 19-year veteran teacher. Throughout this entire experience, she has continued to come to work and teach her students with a big smile and positive attitude. The chemotherapy was difficult, but she worked out a chemotherapy schedule so that she could spend the weekend recovering and be back in school by Monday. Mrs. Ojeda took everything in stride. Her hair fell out, and she wore a wig. The skin on her hands began to peel, and she wore gloves. Her mouth and tongue began to crack, and she concocted her own home remedy. Mrs. Ojeda is an inspiration and a model of strength, humility, and selflessness. She has never complained or asked anyone for anything except our prayers.
The Ojedas are a resilient family and a model of what is right in the world. They have endured so much these past few years, and they continue to wake up every morning counting their blessings. Her husband, who was diagnosed with cancer 3 months after she was, beat cancer and had a successful liver transplant. Her oldest daughter moved back to Texas to start her new job as a second grade teacher, her middle daughter graduated college and won a Fulbright, and her youngest daughter is studying to become a social worker.
There is still hope. On November 6th she is scheduled for brain surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston,TX. God willing a successful surgery, Mrs. Ojeda will begin clinical trials at a clinic in San Antonio, TX. As Mrs. Ojeda continues her fight against cancer, she needs our help.
Anyone who knows Mrs. Ojeda understands she has spent her life giving to others. You can help Mrs. Ojeda now with medical and living costs by contributing here and by sharing this information to spread the word. The Ojedas greatly appreciate anything you could give, but especially ask for your prayers.
Within days of her initial 2014 diagnosis, Mrs. Ojeda started an aggressive chemotherapy schedule, taking three different types of chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumors. She had two tumors the size of oranges in her liver and one growing in her colon. Months of grueling chemotherapy paid off, and in March of 2015, the doctors removed half of her liver and part of her colon. The next year and a half brought mixed news. A few months after a second surgery in July, the doctors found the cancer in her lung, and she stopped the chemotherapy to start radiation therapy. The radiation was successful, but an MRI found the cancer in the back of her abdomen, and she was right back on a new cycle of chemotherapy. This chemotherapy was successful, and the CT scans finally showed Mrs. Ojeda was cancer-free. Her doctors gave her a few weeks to recover, but given the aggressive nature of cancer, they scheduled her for maintenance chemotherapy for the rest of 2016.
In April of 2017, doctors noticed an abnormality on her skull, but complications with insurance caused a delay in an MRI and treatment schedule. In late-May, Mrs. Ojeda ended up in the emergency room where doctors confirmed metastasis to the skull. She started two rounds of radiation, but the treatment was unsuccessful, and the cancer metastasized to the jaw and lumbar region.
Despite four new cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer spread to the brain.
Mrs. Ojeda is a 19-year veteran teacher. Throughout this entire experience, she has continued to come to work and teach her students with a big smile and positive attitude. The chemotherapy was difficult, but she worked out a chemotherapy schedule so that she could spend the weekend recovering and be back in school by Monday. Mrs. Ojeda took everything in stride. Her hair fell out, and she wore a wig. The skin on her hands began to peel, and she wore gloves. Her mouth and tongue began to crack, and she concocted her own home remedy. Mrs. Ojeda is an inspiration and a model of strength, humility, and selflessness. She has never complained or asked anyone for anything except our prayers.
The Ojedas are a resilient family and a model of what is right in the world. They have endured so much these past few years, and they continue to wake up every morning counting their blessings. Her husband, who was diagnosed with cancer 3 months after she was, beat cancer and had a successful liver transplant. Her oldest daughter moved back to Texas to start her new job as a second grade teacher, her middle daughter graduated college and won a Fulbright, and her youngest daughter is studying to become a social worker.
There is still hope. On November 6th she is scheduled for brain surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston,TX. God willing a successful surgery, Mrs. Ojeda will begin clinical trials at a clinic in San Antonio, TX. As Mrs. Ojeda continues her fight against cancer, she needs our help.
Anyone who knows Mrs. Ojeda understands she has spent her life giving to others. You can help Mrs. Ojeda now with medical and living costs by contributing here and by sharing this information to spread the word. The Ojedas greatly appreciate anything you could give, but especially ask for your prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Andrea Ojeda
Organizer
Houston, TX
Antonia Ojeda
Beneficiary
