Julia's Breast Cancer Fight

February 2017 - Julia's annual mammogram came back completely clean and we joked about not worrying about cancer since pretty much everyone we're related to dies of a heart attack. We should worry about eating better, right? 

One week after her 50th birthday, on November 19, 2017, Julia feels a lump in her right breast because it was sore under her arm and she was trying to figure out why. 
October 20th - Huge Birthday to celebrate Kate's 70th, Julia's 50th, & Jessica's 20th Birthdays - all within weeks of each other. 



After tests, tests, and more tests, the diagnosis came back Stage 3 Aggressive Breast Cancer. The tumor, when the oncologist measured it on Dec. 7th measured 8.4 cm by 7.2cm.  The cancer has also spread to 4 lymph nodes under her arm.  

That's the bad news. The good news is that she tests positive for the protein that has been so successful in killing this type
of cancer!

The PLAN: 

Julia will undergo about 6 months of Chemo to shrink the tumor before double mastecomy scheduled for late May. She'll have 4 weeks of daily radiation and then some time for healing before reconstructive surgery - probably next December. 

Getting the port to make it easier for all the medicines for the next year. 
Jessica came home from University of Nebraska early to be able to take her Mom to her first Chemotherapy appointment. 


The PROBLEM:
While Julia is blessed with a wonderfully supportive job at Travelors Insurance who have assured her that they will work with her as much as needed, she still has to pay the bills. Her insurance is very good but her co-pays and deductibles are of course not covered. They are capped at $10,000 per calendar year which is why we've set that goal. The other good news is that most all of her medical expenses should be in the 2018 calendar year so after the reconstructive surgery in December, she should be ok and life can return to normal. 

BLESSINGS: 

Julia is the most loving, optomist and positive person in the world and is blessed with many, many people who want to help. She has promised to ask those friends and family who are local to help with driving her to the many, many appointments that she will be facing. She is such a people person that she is also hoping friends will text, call and take her out to lunch when they have free time because she handle's her fear and worry best by focusing on other people. 

If you are able to help contribute to this page, all of it will be used to pay the co-pays, deductibles and other medical expenses she will be dealing with throughout the year. I hope you can help. 

Visit Julia's Facebook Page to offer your support