- B
- J
- S
We will never forget the day that changed our family forever. One day in August 2020 we had gotten together for outdoor dining as a family and were laughing about all our fifty-something aches & pains and our sister Kathy mentioned that she had a painful lump in her neck. We all said she needed to get it checked out right away but hoped it was just a swollen lymph node from a cold or virus or something. That’s when the worry and medical journey began.
At the first doctor visit there was immediate concern about the “suspicious” lump. Then came the biopsy, the consults with the wonderful medical team at UPenn, and the worst news ever, “you have neuroendocrine cancer that started in the lungs and has spread to the lymph nodes”.
What followed was the even more devastating news that there were several clusters of small tumors in Kathy’s chest and a larger tumor very close to the heart which meant surgery was not an option. The doctors said the best chance for a cure was an extremely aggressive treatment regimen consisting of a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. This meant that some weeks Kathy had radiation and chemotherapy on the same day for 3 days in a row, followed by 2 weeks of daily radiation. After almost 12 weeks of treatment, scans showed that the tumors had shrunk significantly but they were not gone. We were hoping to hear that the tumors were gone or medically speaking, “no evidence of disease.” But there was to be no “cure” and now the best we can hope for is to keep the cancer at bay for a very very long time. Still, we were grateful and hopeful, and just so happy for some good news after such an extremely difficult treatment period.
Through it all Kathy was amazingly positive, and we have all remained very hopeful. Anyone who knows Kathy knows that she is an incredibly kind, loving and very spiritual person. A wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend! We’ve all been inspired by her courage and strength!
Now we wait for the next set of follow-up scans, and honestly, we are struggling to stay positive and inspirational because of the events over the last few weeks.
As a family, we are fiercely protective of our people, so when Kathy got her cancer diagnoses, we felt especially protective and our family has been determined to rally around her.
Cancer and its treatment have kicked her ass... ravaging her body, unsettling her mind and shaking her spirit. Despite it all she still smiles and laughs and remains full of gratitude.
She is supposed to have repeat scans mid-February in order to determine the status of her rare form of lung cancer. We say supposed to because Kathy’s employer has, after six years of service and without notice, terminated her employment specifically stating it was because she can’t work due to her medical status and the fact that they can’t grant her additional unpaid leave due to their “business needs”. She has exhausted her FMLA and remains unable to work due to her cancer and cancer treatments.
In one fell swoop Kathy has lost her job, her employer supported medical benefits, and because she lives in an apartment in the complex where she had been the leasing agent, she lost her employee rent discount and was given 2 days to apply as a regular tenant or vacate the property within 2 weeks.
The outpouring of love and support from family and friends throughout “Kathy’s Positive Inspirational Journey”, as we’re calling it, has been incredible. It is those friends and family who have encouraged us to set up this page so that they can help support Kathy with day to day living needs, monthly prescription costs, and medical co pays.
We are so grateful for the suggestion to ask for help! We have already received several very generous donations and thought it would be helpful to set up this GoFundMe page. Our family is so grateful for the generosity of those who have helped already!
Please keep Kathy in your good thoughts and prayers. She needs our love, support and prayers now more than ever.
Love,
Sally, Jackie, Cindy, Kim and Kathy
At the first doctor visit there was immediate concern about the “suspicious” lump. Then came the biopsy, the consults with the wonderful medical team at UPenn, and the worst news ever, “you have neuroendocrine cancer that started in the lungs and has spread to the lymph nodes”.
What followed was the even more devastating news that there were several clusters of small tumors in Kathy’s chest and a larger tumor very close to the heart which meant surgery was not an option. The doctors said the best chance for a cure was an extremely aggressive treatment regimen consisting of a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. This meant that some weeks Kathy had radiation and chemotherapy on the same day for 3 days in a row, followed by 2 weeks of daily radiation. After almost 12 weeks of treatment, scans showed that the tumors had shrunk significantly but they were not gone. We were hoping to hear that the tumors were gone or medically speaking, “no evidence of disease.” But there was to be no “cure” and now the best we can hope for is to keep the cancer at bay for a very very long time. Still, we were grateful and hopeful, and just so happy for some good news after such an extremely difficult treatment period.
Through it all Kathy was amazingly positive, and we have all remained very hopeful. Anyone who knows Kathy knows that she is an incredibly kind, loving and very spiritual person. A wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend! We’ve all been inspired by her courage and strength!
Now we wait for the next set of follow-up scans, and honestly, we are struggling to stay positive and inspirational because of the events over the last few weeks.
As a family, we are fiercely protective of our people, so when Kathy got her cancer diagnoses, we felt especially protective and our family has been determined to rally around her.
Cancer and its treatment have kicked her ass... ravaging her body, unsettling her mind and shaking her spirit. Despite it all she still smiles and laughs and remains full of gratitude.
She is supposed to have repeat scans mid-February in order to determine the status of her rare form of lung cancer. We say supposed to because Kathy’s employer has, after six years of service and without notice, terminated her employment specifically stating it was because she can’t work due to her medical status and the fact that they can’t grant her additional unpaid leave due to their “business needs”. She has exhausted her FMLA and remains unable to work due to her cancer and cancer treatments.
In one fell swoop Kathy has lost her job, her employer supported medical benefits, and because she lives in an apartment in the complex where she had been the leasing agent, she lost her employee rent discount and was given 2 days to apply as a regular tenant or vacate the property within 2 weeks.
The outpouring of love and support from family and friends throughout “Kathy’s Positive Inspirational Journey”, as we’re calling it, has been incredible. It is those friends and family who have encouraged us to set up this page so that they can help support Kathy with day to day living needs, monthly prescription costs, and medical co pays.
We are so grateful for the suggestion to ask for help! We have already received several very generous donations and thought it would be helpful to set up this GoFundMe page. Our family is so grateful for the generosity of those who have helped already!
Please keep Kathy in your good thoughts and prayers. She needs our love, support and prayers now more than ever.
Love,
Sally, Jackie, Cindy, Kim and Kathy