Mia's Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Three weeks ago (I can't believe thats all the time that has past, seems like an eternity) we found out Mia, my sister-in-law, had stage 3 ovarian cancer. Before that she was happy, presumably healthy and living a "normal" life as a wife and stay-at-home mom of four amazing children: Joshue, her oldest (20), Briana (16), Baylee (6) and Emma (20 months).
It was first discovered when Mia went to the ER, in our home town of Yuma, AZ, for severe stomach pains and siginificant adominal bloating. The doctors found some very large growths on her ovaries, presumed they were tumors and suggested she see her OBGYN. There was nothing they could do for her in the ER.
Later that day Mia and my only brother Ryan (her husband and US Border Patrol Agent) went to see her OBGYN. They ran several tests and her doctor concluded that it was most likely malignant tumors and that it had spread. He said she would need to see on OBGYN oncologist and that the closest ones were in Tucson, Phoenix or San Diego, but that he recommended the Tucson Medical Center.
We called the Tuscon hospital and the soonest they could get her in was Tuesday (today was Thursday). She lay, bed ridden, all weekend from the pain but hopeful that the Tuscon doctors would have better news.
Tuesday brought us no comfort. The Doctor had indeed confirmed Mia had stage 3 ovarian cancer and that it had spread significantly. Our next biggest fear was that it might be in her liver which would, more than likely, have made it terminal. However, this could not be confirmed until surgery which was scheduled for the following Tuesday and so we waited................
The week that past was excruciating for our family. Mia's pain increased significantly. She would not move or speak and at times you could hear her cry out from the pain. Pain meds gave minimal relief and Tuesday could not get here fast enough. The hope that surgery would not only relieve all Mia's pain, but also prove the doctors wrong was so strong, we clung to it as if our worlds depended on it.
The surgery did not go as well as we prayed for. Mia was hemorraging so bad they couldn't remove all the tumors and they were forced to close her up. The cancer was on her liver, but not in it (which was the good news) and it was fast growing. They wanted to start chemo in a week instead of waiting the two weeks post-surgery they originally planned for.
Today (Nov. 20th) is 5 days, post surgery, and even with thousdands of prayers, nothing seems to be going in our favor (but we still have hope and the Lord). Mia is now struggling with severe pain, nasuea & vomitting. Doctors are unsure of the cause and are running x-rays for possible bowel obstruction or an infection.
While my brother travels back and forth from Yuma to Tucson (4 hours, one way) with what probably feels like the weight of the world on his shoulders and the uncertainty of his family's future. My parents (who also live in Yuma) are watching Baylee (age 6) so she can continue with school and my family and I have the baby, Emma (20 months), here with us in Prescott until Ryan and Mia return from Tucson.
The doctor bills are already starting to roll in and even with insurance, they are already in the tens of thousands of dollars. This doesn't even include the Tuscon hospital charges or the next 6 months of chemo. My brother has 10 weeks of sick leave that he plans on taking so that he may care for Mia, but that also comes at a cost for his family, since he looses out on over-time options and night pay. There is also Baylee's school tuition and a possible new expense, daycare, which Emma will more than likely have to be placed in.
I know we are all right smack dab at the start of the holidays which is a struggle for all of us and beleive me my family is giving any and all that we can. This is quite literally a fight for Mia's life and the last thing I want is for them to be focusing on and worried about the financial burden. This is why we are turning to all of you for help and support. Any donation would be a blessing, whether its in monitary form or simply putting them in your prayers. We believe in God's eternal power and that through love of Christ and one another a small group of thoughtful, committed people can make the difference.
Stay strong sis, we won't let you fall. We will fight. We will win. Together we will BEAT this cancer!!!
Happy Holidays to all and God Bless!
Hayley Greenwell
~wife, mother, daughter, sister
It was first discovered when Mia went to the ER, in our home town of Yuma, AZ, for severe stomach pains and siginificant adominal bloating. The doctors found some very large growths on her ovaries, presumed they were tumors and suggested she see her OBGYN. There was nothing they could do for her in the ER.
Later that day Mia and my only brother Ryan (her husband and US Border Patrol Agent) went to see her OBGYN. They ran several tests and her doctor concluded that it was most likely malignant tumors and that it had spread. He said she would need to see on OBGYN oncologist and that the closest ones were in Tucson, Phoenix or San Diego, but that he recommended the Tucson Medical Center.
We called the Tuscon hospital and the soonest they could get her in was Tuesday (today was Thursday). She lay, bed ridden, all weekend from the pain but hopeful that the Tuscon doctors would have better news.
Tuesday brought us no comfort. The Doctor had indeed confirmed Mia had stage 3 ovarian cancer and that it had spread significantly. Our next biggest fear was that it might be in her liver which would, more than likely, have made it terminal. However, this could not be confirmed until surgery which was scheduled for the following Tuesday and so we waited................
The week that past was excruciating for our family. Mia's pain increased significantly. She would not move or speak and at times you could hear her cry out from the pain. Pain meds gave minimal relief and Tuesday could not get here fast enough. The hope that surgery would not only relieve all Mia's pain, but also prove the doctors wrong was so strong, we clung to it as if our worlds depended on it.
The surgery did not go as well as we prayed for. Mia was hemorraging so bad they couldn't remove all the tumors and they were forced to close her up. The cancer was on her liver, but not in it (which was the good news) and it was fast growing. They wanted to start chemo in a week instead of waiting the two weeks post-surgery they originally planned for.
Today (Nov. 20th) is 5 days, post surgery, and even with thousdands of prayers, nothing seems to be going in our favor (but we still have hope and the Lord). Mia is now struggling with severe pain, nasuea & vomitting. Doctors are unsure of the cause and are running x-rays for possible bowel obstruction or an infection.
While my brother travels back and forth from Yuma to Tucson (4 hours, one way) with what probably feels like the weight of the world on his shoulders and the uncertainty of his family's future. My parents (who also live in Yuma) are watching Baylee (age 6) so she can continue with school and my family and I have the baby, Emma (20 months), here with us in Prescott until Ryan and Mia return from Tucson.
The doctor bills are already starting to roll in and even with insurance, they are already in the tens of thousands of dollars. This doesn't even include the Tuscon hospital charges or the next 6 months of chemo. My brother has 10 weeks of sick leave that he plans on taking so that he may care for Mia, but that also comes at a cost for his family, since he looses out on over-time options and night pay. There is also Baylee's school tuition and a possible new expense, daycare, which Emma will more than likely have to be placed in.
I know we are all right smack dab at the start of the holidays which is a struggle for all of us and beleive me my family is giving any and all that we can. This is quite literally a fight for Mia's life and the last thing I want is for them to be focusing on and worried about the financial burden. This is why we are turning to all of you for help and support. Any donation would be a blessing, whether its in monitary form or simply putting them in your prayers. We believe in God's eternal power and that through love of Christ and one another a small group of thoughtful, committed people can make the difference.
Stay strong sis, we won't let you fall. We will fight. We will win. Together we will BEAT this cancer!!!
Happy Holidays to all and God Bless!
Hayley Greenwell
~wife, mother, daughter, sister
Organizer and beneficiary
Prescott Garage Doors
Organizer
Yuma, AZ
Ryan Jones
Beneficiary