Jan Shaia-Thomas' Bucket List Fund
Donation protected
My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer 4 years ago. She has been on chemo since her diagnosis. Mom decided yesterday that she does not want to continue her treatment. We won't know how much time she has until we see how fast it progresses without treatment.
She hasn't had a treatment for 5 weeks and she has felt much better. She has more energy and is eating again.
She wants to LIVE as long as she is able. It's time to start on the bucket list. The list is just in the beginning stages and she will be adding to it as she decides what is important to her.
So far, this is the list:
1. Spend the day with her family at the San Diego Zoo (Scheduled for 10/10/15)
2. Whale watching (Done)
3. Spend Christmas with all her grandchildren (6) and her great-granddaughter. This requires airline tickets for 3 of her grandkids.
4. Eat lots of lobster
5. Seaworld
6. Redwoods
7. Camping
8. Mani/Pedi (Done- She loved it!)
I have a feeling most of her items will be nature related as camping, hiking and picnics were always really important to her.
My mom is my hero! She has always put her family first. She took in 2 of her grandchildren and raised them until she was too sick to do so. She worked as a server and bartender most of her life to support her family. She even worked for free at the parochial school my sister and I attended as children to pay for our tuition.
Her whole life has been devoted to her family. It is time she spends some time focusing on her wants and needs.
One of the amazing donors asked me to mention the importance of the CA-125 test so I did some research. Ladies, please ask your doctor about this test!
The test measures the amount of the protein CA 125 (cancer antigen 125) in your blood. A CA 125 test may be used to monitor certain cancers during and after treatment. In some cases, a CA 125 test may be used to look for early signs of ovarian cancer in women with a very high risk of the disease.
From what I understand, the test isn't fool proof but talk to your doctor regardless. Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed once the disease has progressed to advanced stages as was my mothers, thus greatly reducing the chances of successful treatment. This test could very well save your life.
She hasn't had a treatment for 5 weeks and she has felt much better. She has more energy and is eating again.
She wants to LIVE as long as she is able. It's time to start on the bucket list. The list is just in the beginning stages and she will be adding to it as she decides what is important to her.
So far, this is the list:
1. Spend the day with her family at the San Diego Zoo (Scheduled for 10/10/15)
2. Whale watching (Done)
3. Spend Christmas with all her grandchildren (6) and her great-granddaughter. This requires airline tickets for 3 of her grandkids.
4. Eat lots of lobster
5. Seaworld
6. Redwoods
7. Camping
8. Mani/Pedi (Done- She loved it!)
I have a feeling most of her items will be nature related as camping, hiking and picnics were always really important to her.
My mom is my hero! She has always put her family first. She took in 2 of her grandchildren and raised them until she was too sick to do so. She worked as a server and bartender most of her life to support her family. She even worked for free at the parochial school my sister and I attended as children to pay for our tuition.
Her whole life has been devoted to her family. It is time she spends some time focusing on her wants and needs.
One of the amazing donors asked me to mention the importance of the CA-125 test so I did some research. Ladies, please ask your doctor about this test!
The test measures the amount of the protein CA 125 (cancer antigen 125) in your blood. A CA 125 test may be used to monitor certain cancers during and after treatment. In some cases, a CA 125 test may be used to look for early signs of ovarian cancer in women with a very high risk of the disease.
From what I understand, the test isn't fool proof but talk to your doctor regardless. Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed once the disease has progressed to advanced stages as was my mothers, thus greatly reducing the chances of successful treatment. This test could very well save your life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Melissa Shaia-Egle
Organizer
Huntington Beach, CA
Shirley Cox Harrod
Beneficiary