Katie's Fight!
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Recently, a very close friend of mine, Katie Johnson, was diagnosed with cancer. It has come as a shock to all of us, as she is a young woman, at age 27, and so full of life, not ill, or showing any symptoms of any kind.
Please bear with me as I try to explain her story.
It started on September 18, 2014. Katie presented to her doctor with a small issue, at which time the doctor did a routine pregnancy test, and it came back positive. Blood work and pregnancy tests proved positive, two ultrasounds stated negative, and the doctors were confused, but suspected an ectopic pregnancy.
Doctors gave her Methotrexate , a chemotherapy drug, to terminate the pregnancy. Her HCG levels did not go down, they were going up (for anyone else, who isn’t pregnant, the beta HCG levels should be ZERO). Two more rounds of Methotrexate, and her HGC was still on the rise, so exploratory surgery would be needed.
A mass on her cervix was found, and removed. Doctors believed they had found the problem and acted quickly, but her HCG levels kept climbing….. Along with a very knowledgeable team of doctors, Katie decided to do another surgery called a LEEP , in order to find a proper diagnosis.
And they did……… GESTATIONAL TOPHOBLASTIC NEOPLASIA or CHORIOCARCINOMA
Those are the BIG WORDS for CANCER.
As of November 9th, Katie’s HCG levels have chosen to rise, yet again. Also good news and bad news; bad news – it has spread to her lungs, Good news – nowhere else! The chemotherapy that they started with worked very well. Katie’s Beta HCG levels went down from 21,000 to 2,300. Unfortunately that’s as far as that medication would take her.
Katie’s body has become resistant to just the “single agent”. Her levels have started to climb again. In 4 days they jumped up a staggering 9,000, which put her levels at 13,000. That’s close to square one.
So as Maverick would say “too close for missiles Goose, I’m switching to guns!”
In this case “guns” means “multi-agent chemo therapy” So instead of using one, Katie is now taking FIVE different chemo medications.
The new ‘Guns”, mean new side effects, Katie has started to lose her hair.
That didn’t stop her personality from shining through, true to her spirit, Katie was able to have some fun with it. Her hair stylist came over, and together, they cut her hair into at least 20 different styles on the way up. Katie has since shaved her head and has had to purchase a $1,700 wig.
To show Katie how much I love her, care about her, and how much I am here to support her, I need your help and together we will fight hand in hand against this terrible disease! It’s hard for me to be there physically for Katie, as I live in New Brunswick and she is home in Alberta, where we grew up together.
I believe the best way to support her is to raise funding, to help alleviate the stress associated with financial and medical costs during this trying time, by SHAVING my head for her!
I know the strong and generous community around me will help!
As an added incentive, the person or group that makes the largest donation, WILL SHAVE MY HEAD!!
Please JOIN ME in showing your support by donating financially or by simply donating blood, today!
It’s in you to give!
Blood Donation saves the life of someone with Cancer EVERY SINGLE DAY! Visit www.blood.ca to donate
“On February 11th, 2015 – I, Kiona Kelly, will be shaving my head and all proceeds will be sent directly to Katie Johnson and her family!”
Recently, a very close friend of mine, Katie Johnson, was diagnosed with cancer. It has come as a shock to all of us, as she is a young woman, at age 27, and so full of life, not ill, or showing any symptoms of any kind.
Please bear with me as I try to explain her story.
It started on September 18, 2014. Katie presented to her doctor with a small issue, at which time the doctor did a routine pregnancy test, and it came back positive. Blood work and pregnancy tests proved positive, two ultrasounds stated negative, and the doctors were confused, but suspected an ectopic pregnancy.
Doctors gave her Methotrexate , a chemotherapy drug, to terminate the pregnancy. Her HCG levels did not go down, they were going up (for anyone else, who isn’t pregnant, the beta HCG levels should be ZERO). Two more rounds of Methotrexate, and her HGC was still on the rise, so exploratory surgery would be needed.
A mass on her cervix was found, and removed. Doctors believed they had found the problem and acted quickly, but her HCG levels kept climbing….. Along with a very knowledgeable team of doctors, Katie decided to do another surgery called a LEEP , in order to find a proper diagnosis.
And they did……… GESTATIONAL TOPHOBLASTIC NEOPLASIA or CHORIOCARCINOMA
Those are the BIG WORDS for CANCER.
As of November 9th, Katie’s HCG levels have chosen to rise, yet again. Also good news and bad news; bad news – it has spread to her lungs, Good news – nowhere else! The chemotherapy that they started with worked very well. Katie’s Beta HCG levels went down from 21,000 to 2,300. Unfortunately that’s as far as that medication would take her.
Katie’s body has become resistant to just the “single agent”. Her levels have started to climb again. In 4 days they jumped up a staggering 9,000, which put her levels at 13,000. That’s close to square one.
So as Maverick would say “too close for missiles Goose, I’m switching to guns!”
In this case “guns” means “multi-agent chemo therapy” So instead of using one, Katie is now taking FIVE different chemo medications.
The new ‘Guns”, mean new side effects, Katie has started to lose her hair.
That didn’t stop her personality from shining through, true to her spirit, Katie was able to have some fun with it. Her hair stylist came over, and together, they cut her hair into at least 20 different styles on the way up. Katie has since shaved her head and has had to purchase a $1,700 wig.
To show Katie how much I love her, care about her, and how much I am here to support her, I need your help and together we will fight hand in hand against this terrible disease! It’s hard for me to be there physically for Katie, as I live in New Brunswick and she is home in Alberta, where we grew up together.
I believe the best way to support her is to raise funding, to help alleviate the stress associated with financial and medical costs during this trying time, by SHAVING my head for her!
I know the strong and generous community around me will help!
As an added incentive, the person or group that makes the largest donation, WILL SHAVE MY HEAD!!
Please JOIN ME in showing your support by donating financially or by simply donating blood, today!
It’s in you to give!
Blood Donation saves the life of someone with Cancer EVERY SINGLE DAY! Visit www.blood.ca to donate
“On February 11th, 2015 – I, Kiona Kelly, will be shaving my head and all proceeds will be sent directly to Katie Johnson and her family!”
Organizer
Kiona Kelly
Organizer
Hampton, NB
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