Brain Cancer and Cowden Syndrome
Donation protected
Quick introduction
Hello, my name is Brian Bubb, and I'm starting this GoFundMe to help raise some money for my mother, Heather Bubb. She has just recently been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma multiform. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to treat, and the survival rate is very low for this type of cancer. People diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiform usually live for about 1 year. The location of the cancer makes it especially tricky, and the medicines and treatments are not very effective.
Despite the negative news, the last thing we want to do is lose hope and have negative thoughts sap all our strength. We know we have to stay strong for each other and that staying positive and being there for each other gives us the best chance of getting through this. We're trying do do everything we can, which includes staying in good spirits and making sure my mother gets daily exercise, healthy meals, and has a roof over her head. There is still a chance that recovery goes well, and we are doing everything in our power to give us the best chance.
About the brain cancer
A little over a month ago my mother went to the hospital because she felt dizzy and started vomiting. The hospital ended up finding a large brain tumor. The doctors said that it was best to remove the tumor as soon as possible, so she had brain surgery about a week later. Thankfully, the surgery went well, but the fight to recovery has only just begun. As of right now the treatment plan involves 6 weeks of radiation and 1 year of chemotherapy. She just got her chemotherapy pills in the mail a few days ago and is set to begin her radiation and chemotherapy this Wednesday (29th). She was supposed to start on Tuesday, but it was postponed because of insurance issues.
Family medical background (Cowden Syndrome)
Heather Bubb is a single mother of 3. She has 2 daughters, Samantha and Sara and 1 son, Brian (that's me). About 15 years ago my sister Samantha had her first cancer at the age of 17. It was thyroid cancer, and her thyroid had to be removed. It was a very scary time. The surgery and recovery were very difficult on Sam, but everyone was just happy that she survived. Then about 4 years later she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and she required more surgery to remove her uterus. Since it's unusual for someone to be diagnosed with more than 1 type of cancers, the doctors decided that she should have some genetic testing done.
The genetic testing revealed that she had Cowden Syndrome. Cowden Syndrome is a rare genetic disease caused by a genetic mutation of the PTEN gene. In simple terms, a normal PTEN gene is supposed to help regulate and suppress tumor growths, but this mutation allows tumors to grow unrestrained, with many of them being cancerous. Since it is a genetic disease, all of us needed to be tested. My mother and both of my sisters ended up testing positive for Cowden Syndrome, which is something they will deal with for the rest of their lives. I am the only one of us who does not have the mutation. Ever since my mother and sisters were found to have Cowden Syndrome they've been getting constant MRIs, and other medical tests because they need to be monitored very closely. They are also required to take multiple medications for the rest of their lives because of the cancers and surgeries.
How Cowden Syndrome and Cancer have impacted our lives
This disease has been a huge disturbance in our lives for a long time. To this date, Sara has had only one surgery relating to this disease, but unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before she has more complications. Samantha has had at least 4 different cancers, 8+ surgeries relating to this disease and multiple organs removed. My mother has had 5+ cancers, 10+ surgeries and many organs removed; right now she only has part of one kidney left. My mother's most recent cancer is glioblastoma multiform, and while all of the cancers my family have had have been serious, this one is definitely the worst one.
One instance of cancer of any type is scary and hard enough to deal with, and I would not wish it upon anyone. For my family, cancer has been something we've had to deal with on a daily basis for such a long time. It seems like every year there is at least 1 new medical obstacle to overcome. There are constant surgeries, doctor check-ups, medical tests, medicines, and missed work. Along with the surgeries comes months of recovery followed by worries about the cancer coming back or perhaps thoughts of what new cancer might appear in the near future. It is physically and mentally exhausting. The struggle to just survive is tough enough, but that doesn't even include the normal struggles of everyday life.
They all still have bills to pay, and nothing is free, even with good healthcare. Through all this, they pull themselves back together and jump into the workforce full force, many times before they're ready or have fully recovered, simply because they need money for rent and food just like anyone else. Of course they also work hard because they want to try and maintain some semblance of a normal life, and they work and push themselves excessively hard to try to achieve just that. Then, just when things seem to be OK, another problem rears its head. It's just a vicious, never-ending cycle.
Even with the plethora of problems plaguing my family, they continue to fight through it all and maintain hope. They're strong, but it's impossible to get ahead of anything with so many so many serious complications. Of course we all help each other in any way we can, but there's only so much we can do in this kind of situation.
Bottom line
I love my family, and I know they deserve better. I want them to have the opportunity to have a better quality of life while we are all still together. The diagnosis my mother just got is terrifying, but we will do our best to get through it together. I am and will continue doing everything in my power to help her, which includes taking her to her appointments, cooking healthy meals, helping her get daily exercise to maintain her strength, just being there and whatever else I can do. Unfortunately, I am not made of money, so I can't help too much financially. I have my own rent and student loan debt that I have to deal with. But right now I'm pulling out all the stops to do whatever I can because this is such a crucial time in our lives, and I don't ever want to regret not trying something when I had the chance. I just recently learned about GoFundMe, and I figured the worst that could happen is that we wouldn't raise much money. However, anything would help, and this has much more potential than anything else I can think of. So I am asking anyone who reads this if they would be willing to lend a hand and help out. We could use as many teammates as we can get in this time of need. A huge difference can be made if everyone is willing to chip in a small amount. And of course we appreciate any help we can get.
What the funds would be used for
As I've mentioned earlier, my mother has worked very hard her entire life, constantly working overtime to try to make up for lost time and make sure her family is taken care of, but with all the medical procedures and medicines she needs she has accumulated a lot of debt through no fault of her own. She is now unable to work for the foreseeable future. She's had no income for about a month, but she still needs money for her medications and co-payments. Right now she is waiting to be approved for Medicaid because her employer-based health insurance will not cover her much longer. They just postponed her treatment because of insurance issues, so hopefully there are no more complications with that. But any funds would be put into making sure she can pay for her co-payments, medications and any other medical need.
One of her biggest goals has always been to own at least one home so that no matter what happened she and her kids would always have a place to call home and fall back on. She bought a beat up house for cheap over a decade ago and had plans to fix it up so that she could live in it. It's currently unlivable because it needs a bit of work, and it hasn't come to fruition yet because of the constant mayhem. So instead of being a home and something positive it's just been a burden and has only costed her money every year in taxes just to maintain it. The house doesn't really need that much work, and it would mean soooo much if she were able to see this dream completed. She is currently staying at her daughters house because she has no money for rent. A home would help substantially reduce the cost of living. If the home were completed, those two could live in it, and instead of paying exuberant rent prices, the excess money could go towards my mother's needs. Some of the donated funds would be used to finish the house so my mother can have a home.
Also, my mother has just recently put in for disability. I have no doubt she will qualify for it, but even still, there are lawyer fees. Apparently the lawyer costs around $6000 for this case. That's a lot of money for someone who has no income. Any donations would help cover the lawyer fees.
The money would also help fund other general bills and necessities such as car insurance, life insurance, cell phone and food. I want to make sure she eats healthy, homemade meals, so it would be great to be able to have a constant supply of fresh fruits, veggies and fish.
The money would be used for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning and sanitation supplies as well. That may seem like an odd expense, but there's no such thing as being too careful right now, especially with the Corona-virus on the loose. She will also have a very compromised immune system once she starts chemotherapy, and i want to make sure there is no way for her to get the virus or any other illness for that matter.
Closing statements
Obviously, I wish we weren't in this situation. I don't like asking others for help, but I would do anything I could for my mother. So I am asking you to really consider donating. Every donation would really mean the world to us, and it would be going to a great cause. I thank you for taking the time to read this through.
Hello, my name is Brian Bubb, and I'm starting this GoFundMe to help raise some money for my mother, Heather Bubb. She has just recently been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma multiform. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to treat, and the survival rate is very low for this type of cancer. People diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiform usually live for about 1 year. The location of the cancer makes it especially tricky, and the medicines and treatments are not very effective.
Despite the negative news, the last thing we want to do is lose hope and have negative thoughts sap all our strength. We know we have to stay strong for each other and that staying positive and being there for each other gives us the best chance of getting through this. We're trying do do everything we can, which includes staying in good spirits and making sure my mother gets daily exercise, healthy meals, and has a roof over her head. There is still a chance that recovery goes well, and we are doing everything in our power to give us the best chance.
About the brain cancer
A little over a month ago my mother went to the hospital because she felt dizzy and started vomiting. The hospital ended up finding a large brain tumor. The doctors said that it was best to remove the tumor as soon as possible, so she had brain surgery about a week later. Thankfully, the surgery went well, but the fight to recovery has only just begun. As of right now the treatment plan involves 6 weeks of radiation and 1 year of chemotherapy. She just got her chemotherapy pills in the mail a few days ago and is set to begin her radiation and chemotherapy this Wednesday (29th). She was supposed to start on Tuesday, but it was postponed because of insurance issues.
Family medical background (Cowden Syndrome)
Heather Bubb is a single mother of 3. She has 2 daughters, Samantha and Sara and 1 son, Brian (that's me). About 15 years ago my sister Samantha had her first cancer at the age of 17. It was thyroid cancer, and her thyroid had to be removed. It was a very scary time. The surgery and recovery were very difficult on Sam, but everyone was just happy that she survived. Then about 4 years later she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and she required more surgery to remove her uterus. Since it's unusual for someone to be diagnosed with more than 1 type of cancers, the doctors decided that she should have some genetic testing done.
The genetic testing revealed that she had Cowden Syndrome. Cowden Syndrome is a rare genetic disease caused by a genetic mutation of the PTEN gene. In simple terms, a normal PTEN gene is supposed to help regulate and suppress tumor growths, but this mutation allows tumors to grow unrestrained, with many of them being cancerous. Since it is a genetic disease, all of us needed to be tested. My mother and both of my sisters ended up testing positive for Cowden Syndrome, which is something they will deal with for the rest of their lives. I am the only one of us who does not have the mutation. Ever since my mother and sisters were found to have Cowden Syndrome they've been getting constant MRIs, and other medical tests because they need to be monitored very closely. They are also required to take multiple medications for the rest of their lives because of the cancers and surgeries.
How Cowden Syndrome and Cancer have impacted our lives
This disease has been a huge disturbance in our lives for a long time. To this date, Sara has had only one surgery relating to this disease, but unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before she has more complications. Samantha has had at least 4 different cancers, 8+ surgeries relating to this disease and multiple organs removed. My mother has had 5+ cancers, 10+ surgeries and many organs removed; right now she only has part of one kidney left. My mother's most recent cancer is glioblastoma multiform, and while all of the cancers my family have had have been serious, this one is definitely the worst one.
One instance of cancer of any type is scary and hard enough to deal with, and I would not wish it upon anyone. For my family, cancer has been something we've had to deal with on a daily basis for such a long time. It seems like every year there is at least 1 new medical obstacle to overcome. There are constant surgeries, doctor check-ups, medical tests, medicines, and missed work. Along with the surgeries comes months of recovery followed by worries about the cancer coming back or perhaps thoughts of what new cancer might appear in the near future. It is physically and mentally exhausting. The struggle to just survive is tough enough, but that doesn't even include the normal struggles of everyday life.
They all still have bills to pay, and nothing is free, even with good healthcare. Through all this, they pull themselves back together and jump into the workforce full force, many times before they're ready or have fully recovered, simply because they need money for rent and food just like anyone else. Of course they also work hard because they want to try and maintain some semblance of a normal life, and they work and push themselves excessively hard to try to achieve just that. Then, just when things seem to be OK, another problem rears its head. It's just a vicious, never-ending cycle.
Even with the plethora of problems plaguing my family, they continue to fight through it all and maintain hope. They're strong, but it's impossible to get ahead of anything with so many so many serious complications. Of course we all help each other in any way we can, but there's only so much we can do in this kind of situation.
Bottom line
I love my family, and I know they deserve better. I want them to have the opportunity to have a better quality of life while we are all still together. The diagnosis my mother just got is terrifying, but we will do our best to get through it together. I am and will continue doing everything in my power to help her, which includes taking her to her appointments, cooking healthy meals, helping her get daily exercise to maintain her strength, just being there and whatever else I can do. Unfortunately, I am not made of money, so I can't help too much financially. I have my own rent and student loan debt that I have to deal with. But right now I'm pulling out all the stops to do whatever I can because this is such a crucial time in our lives, and I don't ever want to regret not trying something when I had the chance. I just recently learned about GoFundMe, and I figured the worst that could happen is that we wouldn't raise much money. However, anything would help, and this has much more potential than anything else I can think of. So I am asking anyone who reads this if they would be willing to lend a hand and help out. We could use as many teammates as we can get in this time of need. A huge difference can be made if everyone is willing to chip in a small amount. And of course we appreciate any help we can get.
What the funds would be used for
As I've mentioned earlier, my mother has worked very hard her entire life, constantly working overtime to try to make up for lost time and make sure her family is taken care of, but with all the medical procedures and medicines she needs she has accumulated a lot of debt through no fault of her own. She is now unable to work for the foreseeable future. She's had no income for about a month, but she still needs money for her medications and co-payments. Right now she is waiting to be approved for Medicaid because her employer-based health insurance will not cover her much longer. They just postponed her treatment because of insurance issues, so hopefully there are no more complications with that. But any funds would be put into making sure she can pay for her co-payments, medications and any other medical need.
One of her biggest goals has always been to own at least one home so that no matter what happened she and her kids would always have a place to call home and fall back on. She bought a beat up house for cheap over a decade ago and had plans to fix it up so that she could live in it. It's currently unlivable because it needs a bit of work, and it hasn't come to fruition yet because of the constant mayhem. So instead of being a home and something positive it's just been a burden and has only costed her money every year in taxes just to maintain it. The house doesn't really need that much work, and it would mean soooo much if she were able to see this dream completed. She is currently staying at her daughters house because she has no money for rent. A home would help substantially reduce the cost of living. If the home were completed, those two could live in it, and instead of paying exuberant rent prices, the excess money could go towards my mother's needs. Some of the donated funds would be used to finish the house so my mother can have a home.
Also, my mother has just recently put in for disability. I have no doubt she will qualify for it, but even still, there are lawyer fees. Apparently the lawyer costs around $6000 for this case. That's a lot of money for someone who has no income. Any donations would help cover the lawyer fees.
The money would also help fund other general bills and necessities such as car insurance, life insurance, cell phone and food. I want to make sure she eats healthy, homemade meals, so it would be great to be able to have a constant supply of fresh fruits, veggies and fish.
The money would be used for personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning and sanitation supplies as well. That may seem like an odd expense, but there's no such thing as being too careful right now, especially with the Corona-virus on the loose. She will also have a very compromised immune system once she starts chemotherapy, and i want to make sure there is no way for her to get the virus or any other illness for that matter.
Closing statements
Obviously, I wish we weren't in this situation. I don't like asking others for help, but I would do anything I could for my mother. So I am asking you to really consider donating. Every donation would really mean the world to us, and it would be going to a great cause. I thank you for taking the time to read this through.
Organizer
Brian Bubb
Organizer
Kingston, PA