Lily’s Cancer Fundraiser

Hello, my name is Sara and I am fundraising for my sister Lily. A smart, talented, loving, selfless mother of 2, who has recently been diagnosed with stage 3 Adenocarcinoma (colon) Cancer. Unable to work and provide for her family during her 6 months of Chemo treatment, please kindly consider donating to assist with the cost of living and any potential non-covered medical expenses. Supporters truly cannot put into words how this awful experience impacts their life, unless they have personally experienced such pain themselves. So please read Lily’s self written journey and donate, share, and keep us in your thoughts during this difficult time:

A little over a year ago, I was suffering with digestive issues. Finally in February, 2022, I took action and saw my doctor. She ordered blood work and suggested I cut out lactose and wheat, so I did just that. My bloodwork came back fine, so I was sent on my way. After being dairy and gluten-free for months, the pain would still come and go and I was frequenting the washroom on

an abnormal basis. It was taking over my whole life. I knew it had to be something else.

I went back to see my doctor in June, 2022. That was when I was referred to a Gastroenterologist. I had a colonoscopy scheduled the same month, but could not go through with it, as the Peg-Lyte solution they get you to drink, did not work. I literally flushed almost $40.00 down the toilet. The solution was by far, the most disgusting thing that I ever had to ingest! It made me sick to my stomach and with already having stomach issues, it was truly something unforgettable to add to my trauma. To say the least, I was so discouraged and felt desperate.

The rescheduled colonoscopy was in September, 2022. I could still taste and feared that disgusting solution and could not express that enough to the receptionist, so I was told I could do Pico-Salax. $65.00 later and four pouches of the not-so-good solution down my throat, but still better than that Peg-Lyte, I was off to the Gastroenterologist with high hopes and a VERY sore belly (the solution makes you poop…a lot). Not really knowing what to expect, I was full of angst and had so many negative thoughts. Once in the prep/recovery room, the nurses were great in prepping me for the procedure. The nerves got worse as I was rolled into the operating room. The doctor was really nice, made me feel comfortable and assured me that I had nothing to worry about. Typically, a woman my age may be experiencing IBS or Colitis. I was given a sedative via intravenous and slowly zonked out. I remember coming to and seeing the anesthesiologist rush to my bedside to administer more sedative. I passed out again. Finally, when I woke up, I was back in the recovery room. I had to wait for the sedative to wear off and was expected to pass A LOT of gas. While lying there (not passing gas ), I would watch the doctor come in the room, speak with a patient about the procedure they just had, leave, come back and speak to another patient. I thought, “Oh, I’ll be next for my follow-up with him”, but he never came to me. I didn’t really think much of it, even when the nurse said it was okay for me to leave the room and that the doctor will be discharging me. It wasn’t until the nurse escorted me down the hall to the doctor’s office and motioned for my sister to accompany me into the office, that I felt something was wrong. Her and I nervously sat there waiting. When the doctor came into his office, his face said it all. My heart felt like it stopped. He told me that during the procedure, he came across a mass in my rectum. Thankfully a surgeon, who became my surgeon for that very reason, happened to be there that day and was called into the room to give a second opinion. My thought instantly was, “No wonder I woke up in the middle if it. The procedure wasn’t suppose to take as long as it did.” He said the mass had over a 90% chance of being malignant. He truly looked surprised at first and then genuinely saddened for me. He just did not expect a woman my age to have such a diagnosis. I felt like I was in a dream. I told myself, “You’re still sedated and you’ll wake up soon.” That obviously never happened. I felt numb. The ride home was very quiet. I knew my road ahead was going to be rough.

With months on end of waiting in pain and with frustration, the ball started rolling almost too fast! I was set up with, Dr. Azabi, a wonderful surgeon. He was the one who confirmed my tumour was malignant after the biopsy and that it also had swollen lymph nodes around it. From the unknown, to the possibility of cancer, to biopsy, to, “You have cancer”, my mind was muddled. I truly didn’t know how to feel. People think, “It’ll never happen to me”, but nowadays, it’s almost impossible to get away with that thought. Appointments were coming out of my butt (for lack of a better term…plus, I like to use humour, it helps me cope). It was just the beginning and I already felt depleted. My next step was a CT Scan, more blood work and then surgery. When I found out my scan was dated over a month away and the surgeon wouldn’t do the surgery until I had the scan, I was at a loss for, I don’t know, sanity? I was so frustrated, I had to vent to someone, so I messaged my sister, Sara. She urged me to go to the ER, so I did that very day. September 29, 2022 was a BIG turn of events.That same day, I had a CT Scan done, X-Ray and some more blood work. After all the results were in, the ER doctor told me, “Your sister saved your life.” The reason why I was in so much pain and having so many issues with my bowel movements, was because the tumour had grown and was almost blocking the passageway. Once the tests were all done, everything was sent to my surgeon and I got a surgery date the following week to remove that “A" hole of a tumour (see what I did there… sorry, coping, coping).The, “what ifs” taunted me through all of my sleepless nights and worried me during my days. I couldn’t concentrate on simple tasks. The initial set time I had scheduled to take off work was for six weeks, so I can heal from the surgery. I honestly didn’t place myself in the present situation I am in now. I thought, “Okay, I’ll just have my surgery, the tumour will be removed, I’ll heal in 6 weeks, then go right back to work.” Ya, no. You can never ever be prepared for when life hits you right where it counts.

After all the fear and anticipation leading up to the surgery, the day happened. It went well. I spent six agonizing days in the hospital (that bed still gives me nightmares) until I was healed enough to be discharged. Early November, I saw Dr. Azabi for follow-up. That was when I was hit with, “You will be needing chemotherapy. We took out around 55 lymph nodes and six of them were positive for cancer, along with the tumour.” That all-too-familiar, uneasy, heart-stopping feeling came back for a visit. Now what?

I was set up with the Oncologist, Dr. Tharmabala, and a whole oncology team at the Walker Cancer Centre. They have all been wonderful. When my Oncologist told me I will be receiving six months of chemotherapy, I felt panicked and conquered. How am I going to be able to manage this for six months?! I honestly considered going back to work to be placed on Modified Duties, but that idea went out the window when I just recently spent two days in two different hospitals, in pain because of my PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line. That is how I receive my chemo infusion treatment. I ended up having a blood clot in my right arm, which is a risk, but again, who thinks it is going to happen to them? While chemo may lower the blood count and puts one at risk of infection, going back to work was out of the question. I have been on Enoxaparin Sodium, a blood thinner that is injected into my abdomen everyday, for however long my Oncologist recommends for my blood clot.

As for the treatment, I am receiving chemo infusions, Oxaliplatin, three hour cycles and I am also taking 2000 mg of Capecitabine daily. Have you watched a sad movie about a cancer patient going through chemo and wondered if that is how it really is? Well, IT IS! For me anyway. There are days that I think that I can’t do this anymore. Chemo is HORRIBLE! I feel sick a lot, exhausted, but can’t sleep, get headaches, feel useless, helpless and just overall gross about myself. I try my best to do things that make me happy and stay positive and not fall down that rabbit hole of depression. It truly is challenging, but day-by-day is all I can really take to get through this, along with the support, encouragement and positive thoughts and words from others, I will continue to wholly appreciate you all.

To my family, you have been my greatest support system!

Thank you all so much.

Sincerely,

Lily