A Journey Of Hope:Overcoming Cancer
Donation protected
The earth stood still and our world shattered when we heard the news in January, 2017, that our friend Chioma Ugha (Nee Iheme), had ovarian cancer. Beautiful Chioma, mother of three, always has time, to organize surprises, for her family and her friends. She’ll always bring to any gathering, her legendary secret recipe salad or that extra rice dish. Her smile lights up a room making you feel like she’s been your friend for ages though you just met. Shocked, we felt helpless. We had no hope till we heard of recent advances in cancer treatments such as a technique called cytoreductive (debulking) surgery shown to be an effective treatment option for certain peritoneal surface malignancy cancers.
But it is an expensive procedure not offered in her home state and out of her medical insurance coverage zone. We had to embark on this journey to save Chioma through this surgery. It is our Journey of HOPE.
We have set up this GoFundMe page to assist her in raising the funds needed for a Cytoreduction Surgery with Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
Surgery cost and travel expenses till process is finished is about $100,000. Please note that all costs given are conservative estimates.
Video Information Of The Surgeon & Surgical Procedure: Click On Link Below
https://youtu.be/J5dZz96eRvM
CHIOMA'S STORY
Chioma tells her story from her heart, in the write-up below and in the opening video titled "A Journey Of Hope: Overcoming Cancer”
Hi....my name is Chioma and I am a mother to 3 amazing children. I hope by telling my story, I will give hope to myself and to so many other people who are going through what I am going through.
You see, on January, 2017, I was told I had ovarian cancer. I had just come home from a 5 week vacation which I had planned for many years. I had just had the best time of my life. I visited friends and my 87year old mother that I had not seen in many years. I had so much fun and I was really happy. I was sure that my best days were just beginning.
But 5 days before the end of my vacation, I began to feel weak and I just had no appetite. My tummy was feeling uncomfortable and started hurting. I just started bloating up. At first I thought it was something I ate but life was draining out of me so fast that I felt so unbelievable weak. I just couldn't wait to get home.
I called my husband, Thad and asked him to schedule a doctor's appointment for me before I got home. I knew I was in trouble. Something was terribly wrong. The long flight home was hell. I immediately went to see my doctor and after running tests....on January 12th, he broke the news to me and my world crashed around me. Cancer....it's a word you never want to hear. It's a word that gives no HOPE.
My head started spinning... My heart was racing....and at first I couldn't cry. I was in a twilight zone and all I could think of was my family. I thought of my husband. I always thought I was his weakness and he, my strength. Now, I wasn't sure he'd have enough strength to keep me strong. Then I thought of my children and all the promises I had made to them over the years...my oldest son was in college. I promised to be there at his graduation, at his wedding. I thought of my daughter...she is only 16. I am supposed to be at her high school graduation, be there at her college check in day to make that dorm bed. I promised to be at her college graduation, her wedding.... I thought of my baby boy...he's only in middle school....so many milestones I had promised I'd be at for my kids.
I didn't hear what the doctor, my husband and my sister were saying till the doctor said chemotherapy.... He offered no real hope....only chemotherapy... Series of chemotherapy. My nightmare had really, truly begun. First I had to get fluid out of my stomach and then I started chemo and as my body kept taking the beating from this toxic chemical I kept my faith and will to live, listening out for the word HOPE, trying to find it.
Finally I heard it. It came in the form of recent advancement in cancer treatment called cytoreductive (debulking) surgery. A procedure which is not done in the state I live in, therefore my insurance will not cover it. It is an expensive procedure and I can only do it in Washington DC. It offers HOPE to cancer patients.....and I want to be a living example of that hope.
The surgery cost and travel expenses till this process is finished is estimated to be about $100,000. I prayed as I wondered how to pay for it. But God heard my prayers and sent my family, friends and total strangers to set this site up to help fund my surgery. I need your help and assistance while on this journey of hope in overcoming cancer.
Every single cent counts. No amount is too much or too little. All funds offer hope and will be used for undertaking my journey of hope, to overcome this cancer by paying for this incredible procedure and any future treatment costs and related expenses.
I will keep updating you on my story and my Journey of HOPE, with periodic updates of my progress and recovery milestones.
Thank you all in advance for your support, kindness and generosity.
With each donation, prayer and well wish sent, I pray that you all will receive in return, blessings a million fold.
Thank you all. You raise me up.
Chioma Ugha (Nee Iheme)
gofundme Credits:
Akunna Amu, Enuma Chigbo, Oma Nkele
On Behalf Of All Chioma's Friends & Family.
But it is an expensive procedure not offered in her home state and out of her medical insurance coverage zone. We had to embark on this journey to save Chioma through this surgery. It is our Journey of HOPE.
We have set up this GoFundMe page to assist her in raising the funds needed for a Cytoreduction Surgery with Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
Surgery cost and travel expenses till process is finished is about $100,000. Please note that all costs given are conservative estimates.
Video Information Of The Surgeon & Surgical Procedure: Click On Link Below
https://youtu.be/J5dZz96eRvM
CHIOMA'S STORY
Chioma tells her story from her heart, in the write-up below and in the opening video titled "A Journey Of Hope: Overcoming Cancer”
Hi....my name is Chioma and I am a mother to 3 amazing children. I hope by telling my story, I will give hope to myself and to so many other people who are going through what I am going through.
You see, on January, 2017, I was told I had ovarian cancer. I had just come home from a 5 week vacation which I had planned for many years. I had just had the best time of my life. I visited friends and my 87year old mother that I had not seen in many years. I had so much fun and I was really happy. I was sure that my best days were just beginning.
But 5 days before the end of my vacation, I began to feel weak and I just had no appetite. My tummy was feeling uncomfortable and started hurting. I just started bloating up. At first I thought it was something I ate but life was draining out of me so fast that I felt so unbelievable weak. I just couldn't wait to get home.
I called my husband, Thad and asked him to schedule a doctor's appointment for me before I got home. I knew I was in trouble. Something was terribly wrong. The long flight home was hell. I immediately went to see my doctor and after running tests....on January 12th, he broke the news to me and my world crashed around me. Cancer....it's a word you never want to hear. It's a word that gives no HOPE.
My head started spinning... My heart was racing....and at first I couldn't cry. I was in a twilight zone and all I could think of was my family. I thought of my husband. I always thought I was his weakness and he, my strength. Now, I wasn't sure he'd have enough strength to keep me strong. Then I thought of my children and all the promises I had made to them over the years...my oldest son was in college. I promised to be there at his graduation, at his wedding. I thought of my daughter...she is only 16. I am supposed to be at her high school graduation, be there at her college check in day to make that dorm bed. I promised to be at her college graduation, her wedding.... I thought of my baby boy...he's only in middle school....so many milestones I had promised I'd be at for my kids.
I didn't hear what the doctor, my husband and my sister were saying till the doctor said chemotherapy.... He offered no real hope....only chemotherapy... Series of chemotherapy. My nightmare had really, truly begun. First I had to get fluid out of my stomach and then I started chemo and as my body kept taking the beating from this toxic chemical I kept my faith and will to live, listening out for the word HOPE, trying to find it.
Finally I heard it. It came in the form of recent advancement in cancer treatment called cytoreductive (debulking) surgery. A procedure which is not done in the state I live in, therefore my insurance will not cover it. It is an expensive procedure and I can only do it in Washington DC. It offers HOPE to cancer patients.....and I want to be a living example of that hope.
The surgery cost and travel expenses till this process is finished is estimated to be about $100,000. I prayed as I wondered how to pay for it. But God heard my prayers and sent my family, friends and total strangers to set this site up to help fund my surgery. I need your help and assistance while on this journey of hope in overcoming cancer.
Every single cent counts. No amount is too much or too little. All funds offer hope and will be used for undertaking my journey of hope, to overcome this cancer by paying for this incredible procedure and any future treatment costs and related expenses.
I will keep updating you on my story and my Journey of HOPE, with periodic updates of my progress and recovery milestones.
Thank you all in advance for your support, kindness and generosity.
With each donation, prayer and well wish sent, I pray that you all will receive in return, blessings a million fold.
Thank you all. You raise me up.
Chioma Ugha (Nee Iheme)
gofundme Credits:
Akunna Amu, Enuma Chigbo, Oma Nkele
On Behalf Of All Chioma's Friends & Family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ihuoma Onyioha-Nkele
Organizer
Buford, GA
NNAMDI THADDEUS UGHA
Beneficiary