Join Christina's Fight Against Metastatic Cancer

Hello Friends and Family of Christina,

I am starting this Go Fund Me on behalf of my beautiful sister, Christina, who those closest to her know, has been battling breast cancer. Tina was first diagnosed in 2022 after feeling a lump in her breast that she had checked out. The doctors/radiologist concluded at that time that it was not too concerning, and advised her to have a follow-up in six months. During that time she left with her family to Mexico to live and work on Ruben's (spouse) coffee farm. While there she did notice changes and when she returned to the states she followed up. New imaging showed a significant difference in her lump and a biopsy confirmed cancer.

Her journey has not been easy. She had to fight insurance with the help of a Bay Area legal team to get the continuity of care that she deserved. With their help she was able to connect with an oncology team that she loved and felt supported by. During this time she also wanted to get to the root of what was causing cancer to grow in her body. She did not want to accept that this was simply "bad luck". With the help of a Functional Medicine doctor she was able to find foods that were healthy and not inflammatory to her body. She was eating clean and taking the supplements prescribed to her by her Functional Medicine doctor and her oncologist.

In 2024, her imaging showed that the tumor in her breast had decreased significantly and that she was finally at a point where she could have surgery to remove it! Her oncologist was very proud of her efforts and called her an A+ patient. The tumor was removed, along with some cancerous lymph nodes, and about 2 weeks later they went back to remove a small piece that was left behind.

At her routine PET & MRI scans in January revealed some spots flaring up in her pelvic area and sternum as well as a new breast lump. The lump was scheduled to be biopsied February 8th, however Tina ended up in the ER on February 6th after having severe neck pain. She had been having neck & lower back pain for about a month, but she does work as a server in a country club, so just thought it was job related pain.

New scans of her neck in the ER revealed that she had two fractures in her neck caused by cancer that has spread to that area.

This is where we are today. Tina is at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA where they have a neurology department. They are awaiting a plan that could possibly include radiation and/or surgery, but she also needs time to heal as the neck fractures are causing her extreme pain.

This is where you come in. We are requesting this money to help Tina get back in with her Functional Medicine Doctor (this is not covered by insurance and costs $10k+ out of pocket, which is why she could no longer afford the treatment). She is hopeful that a combination of Eastern and Western medicine will be crucial to her fight against this disease that is wreaking havoc on her body.

Anyone that knows my sister knows how much of a hard worker she is. Through all of this she has continued to work and provide for her family. With her in the hospital and unable to work, it will cause a tremendous amount of financial strain on them. Anything you are able to give will help and if you can't, we understand. We just ask that you PRAY. Pray for healing, pray for pain relief, pray for the team of doctors that are working with her, pray for Ruben, Xol, Emilio, & Maceo (her three children) & the rest of her family who love her and just want to see her healed. Thank you. We love you. ❤️

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