In the fall of 2014 Kassie Horner starting noticing that she wasn’t feeling well.  Kassie went to the doctor for an annual checkup and noticed that the lymph nodes in her neck were twice the size that they should be.  Kassie’s Doctor Dr. Randall followed up with an ultrasound on her lymph nodes and told her to consult with her primary physician.  Kassie’s primary physician decided to have the lymph nodes removed because of their size and the general surgeon Dr. Gavin would not perform the procedure do to the location and risks. Dr. Gavin referred Kassie to a specialist at an otolaryngology clinic in Burnsville.  The specialist Dr. Ayre ran a CT scan and a lymph node biopsy and decided that the removal of the lymph nodes was necessary.  The first surgery revealed a cancerous tumor (malignant paraganglioma).  Dr. Ayre was unable to remove all of the tumor and lymph nodes due to lack of testing  in the first surgery.  Kassie underwent extensive testing with MRI’s, PET scan, and more CT imaging.  Dr. Ayre thought that he had located the entire cancerous tumor and felt that he could remove all of the infected lymph nodes and tumor.  He was unsuccessful in the second surgery, because at that time the cancer had spread into the carotid artery and major nerves in Kassie’s neck.  Dr. Ayre referred Kassie to the University of Minnesota.  Kassie is the second case of a malignant paraganglioma that the University has ever seen.  It is a very rare cancerous tumor that has imbedded itself into the carotid artery wall.  Kassie has had to undergo numerous testing including a cerebral angiogram to see if she could withstand surgery.  On June 29th Kassie underwent a carotid artery graph over three inches in length and the loss of her right jugular vein.  Kassie also has suffered the loss of a major nerve that controls her ability to swallow.  During the process the nerve to her right vocal cord has been damaged so she has lost the ability to speak normally as well.  The surgery was 10 hours long and was a success to remove the tumor but unfortunately the cancer has moved farther up in her neck where surgery isn’t an option anymore.  Kassie will have to undergo radiation and Jpeg surgery (feeding tube).   She is attending swallowing, speech, and physical therapy to try and get some of her movement back but radiation is going to be very tough on her and delay her recovery. She as well may have lost the ability to eat normal hard food or eat without a feeding tube for the rest of her life.

I am asking all friends and family to help Kassie during this tough time. She has a handsome 9 year old son who is giving her the strength to stay positive but the weight of financial obligations is slowing down the recovery she needs. With the evolving problems that have come from this surgery she is unable to work. Kassie is a strong woman and I ask all to help out this single mother stay a float.