Mac’s Daughter Krista has Breast Cancer

Hi my name is Mac Lopez, many of you know me & know that I make flutes, it’s heartbreaking to announce that my daughter Krista has Cancer and just so you know some of her story, I’d appreciate it if you would read the following:

“After surviving Hodgkins Lymphoma in her late 20’s, Krista is fighting a new Breast Cancer diagnoses that will require a full mastectomy of her right breast.

Some history: in Feb 2022 she noticed a series of lumps in her left breast. She was immediately sent to Huntsman Cancer Institute for a Mammogram due to her cancer history. During her Mammogram on Feb 28, they noticed extensive calcifications (8.6cm) in her RIGHT breast. Her left breast had cysts that are known to be benign. Within a week She was scheduled for stereotactic breast biopsies in two places on her right breast. This injured her breast to such a degree that they delayed her MRI for a month and then had to schedule a follow up MRI 3 months later (just last week) as there was still blood and debris from the biopsies.

She consulted with breast specialists at Huntsman, IMC and have a final consult in Seattle at Seattle Cancer Alliance in July. Shes also seen a fantastic and caring oncologist. They all agree that mastectomy is the only way to ensure that all of the cancer is removed. In addition, there is an area of cancer behind the nipple, so her mastectomy will remove the nipple as well

The numerous tests and consults thus far are standing at near $7,000 out of pocket. Krista has excellent insurance and an AFLAC critical care policy. But cancer is expensive, a multi billion dollar industry apparently. And she still has multiple surgeries, mammograms and MRIs to undergo. By end of year She expects her medical out of pocket to be somewhere near $15,000 or more . Each MRI has been close to $4,000. Even with insurance. Being in or out of network doesn’t seem to matter and all of her deductibles will reset in January!

What’s next? Krista has one final consult with a specialist in her type of breast cancer at Seattle Cancer Alliance in July and then a mastectomy currently scheduled for 8/16. She will then undergo weekly appointments for months to expand the leftover tissue and it is the goal that in six months from the original surgery date She will have full reconstruction. She may have a surgery or two after this to replace tissue or repair parts of the reconstruction. All in all it is about 1 year of surgeries they told her to expect. We also won’t know the full extent of the cancer and how invasive it is until they get all of the tissue and lymph node out and send it to pathology.

Krista works really hard. She owns two businesses, has a full time job and is a midwife with a busy birth center. She won’t be able to continue all of that work after surgery. Six weeks is her minimum recovery time after the first surgery and 4 weeks after the second surgery. Not to mention all of the healing. Shes considering closing the birth center and taking a 2 year break from catching babies. It breaks her heart but She knows she has given so much love and caring to women and families, She must start to care for herself and her family during this time. The big kids are terrified of what cancer again means for all of us and Krista wants to spend as much time with them as possible making memories and not being sick.”

I’m praying for a miracle and your kind donations and your precious prayers would make that happen, our faith In Creator & Native culture is at the forefront of everything. I want to thank you all in advance with blessings and prayers for you and your family. Blessings, Mac