I choose life. Please help me battle CIC DUX4 sarcoma.

It’s still hard to believe. I have a rare sarcoma that started in my hand and has metastasized to my lungs. They call it CIC DUX4 Sarcoma. I googled what that meant as soon as I saw it in my online chart. After being told my hand tumor was benign and having surgery to remove it, this was a shock. On Oct 14, I found out the mass was malignant. I had a PET, chest CT, and hand MRI on Oct 20 at MSKCC. On Oct 21, we found out I had 5ish lung nodules on each side. I can’t even begin to explain the feelings that I’ve experienced over the past few weeks. From hearing a 14-month average life expectancy, really debating if their chemo regimen was worth it, accepting that my life would be cut way too short (in my eyes), and now being ready to fight for my life. It’s something I can’t shake. It’s all-consuming. I’ve been told to take it One. Day. At. A. Time.

I’m so thankful to have Sam by my side on this rollercoaster. The prognosis is/was so hard to sit with. At the same time, I felt like I could just give up because this was always the plan. Well, I’m not giving up. And we’re going to have countless travel costs to NYC and possibly SLC. I have another appointment scheduled at MD Anderson in December. And, the most expensive part is that I really want to go to Hope4Cancer in Cancun for their non-traditional approach as well. It’s a three-week stay that Emmett and Sam would join me for. Regardless of what treatment route comes first, I’ll be out of work for a while. The financial burden of all of this is just one piece, and it’s really falling on Sam. He has been holding it together like the rock he is, but I’m hoping to remove some of that weight.

Thanks for reading and considering helping us move through this as gracefully as we can. I know God is with us, He has a plan, and this whole experience will bring Him glory.