Dreamer Mom Alicia's Cancer Fight
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Hello everyone,
My name is Edsson Rodriguez, and pictured with me is my mom, Alicia Frausto. She is only 61 years young, a mother, grandmother, a beloved friend to many, and it breaks my heart to tell you that she is currently facing the battle of her life against stomach (gastric) cancer.
To say that my mom has endured a stressful life would be an understatement. A little background for you: In the Summer of 2010, she was removed from this country without due process. During her time in Tijuana, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early enough to not be life threatening. She underwent a lumpectomy surgery to remove it, and then went through a round of chemotherapy to solidify the removal. She won that fight and made an awesome recovery! However, we were still going through the processes of bringing her back home.
Finally, after six years, we were able to bring her back home last year, on October 27th.
Things took a turn, though, in the past few months when my mom gradually began having more and more difficulty eating and keeping things down. After several trips to LAC-USC Hospital, we discovered that she had a 6 cm mass blocking her stomach and intestines. She was treated for pain and sent home until further investigations and treatments could be done. Her stay at home was short-lived, though, because her symptoms began to worsen, including severe muscle cramps and bodily jerking. Her lack of potassium was becoming terribly apparent. She was taken to San Dimas Community Hospital where she has been since October 15th. The following Thursday, October 19th, she underwent surgery to remove the blockage from her stomach (which included removing half of her stomach), biopsy the mass, and determine her prognosis. The results showed that the mass was indeed stomach cancer, which has spread to her pancreas. The initial plan was to recover from the surgery, spend some supplemental time in a rehabilitation facility to help get her moving and eating properly again, then undergo chemotherapy to tackle the cancer on the pancreas.
Unfortunately, this cancer has other plans. After speaking with an oncologist, it has been determined that the cancer is already at Stage 4, and has spread locally to her lymph nodes in between and around her lungs, and the blockage has begun to grow again. For the time being, her stay at San Dimas Community Hospital has come to an end and she is now at a care facility in Montclair.
Little by little, my mom has begun to eat more and more and regain some strength. If, in the next few weeks, she continues to regain her strength, we will revisit the option of chemotherapy at City of Hope. If things do not improve and we forego chemo, we are looking at only a few months left with her.
The cherry on top is that we are STILL in the midst of a battle to keep her here at home with us in the U.S. We have already had to rearrange hearing dates, the next one of which will be mid-December.
Any funds donated will be put towards her medical costs, hospice care, and the fight to keep her at home with us. These are vital necessities and we have started this GoFundMe to help us obtain them. Any size donation would be greatly appreciated and an immense help.
I am a strong believer in the ability we have to help one another. Time and time again, GoFundMe has helped hundreds of people get their life back together or obtain goals in life they would have otherwise never reached. <3
I truly appreciate all the love and support from all my friends and family. I will keep you all updated throughout this whole ordeal. Thank you, once again!
- Edsson
My name is Edsson Rodriguez, and pictured with me is my mom, Alicia Frausto. She is only 61 years young, a mother, grandmother, a beloved friend to many, and it breaks my heart to tell you that she is currently facing the battle of her life against stomach (gastric) cancer.
To say that my mom has endured a stressful life would be an understatement. A little background for you: In the Summer of 2010, she was removed from this country without due process. During her time in Tijuana, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early enough to not be life threatening. She underwent a lumpectomy surgery to remove it, and then went through a round of chemotherapy to solidify the removal. She won that fight and made an awesome recovery! However, we were still going through the processes of bringing her back home.
Finally, after six years, we were able to bring her back home last year, on October 27th.
Things took a turn, though, in the past few months when my mom gradually began having more and more difficulty eating and keeping things down. After several trips to LAC-USC Hospital, we discovered that she had a 6 cm mass blocking her stomach and intestines. She was treated for pain and sent home until further investigations and treatments could be done. Her stay at home was short-lived, though, because her symptoms began to worsen, including severe muscle cramps and bodily jerking. Her lack of potassium was becoming terribly apparent. She was taken to San Dimas Community Hospital where she has been since October 15th. The following Thursday, October 19th, she underwent surgery to remove the blockage from her stomach (which included removing half of her stomach), biopsy the mass, and determine her prognosis. The results showed that the mass was indeed stomach cancer, which has spread to her pancreas. The initial plan was to recover from the surgery, spend some supplemental time in a rehabilitation facility to help get her moving and eating properly again, then undergo chemotherapy to tackle the cancer on the pancreas.
Unfortunately, this cancer has other plans. After speaking with an oncologist, it has been determined that the cancer is already at Stage 4, and has spread locally to her lymph nodes in between and around her lungs, and the blockage has begun to grow again. For the time being, her stay at San Dimas Community Hospital has come to an end and she is now at a care facility in Montclair.
Little by little, my mom has begun to eat more and more and regain some strength. If, in the next few weeks, she continues to regain her strength, we will revisit the option of chemotherapy at City of Hope. If things do not improve and we forego chemo, we are looking at only a few months left with her.
The cherry on top is that we are STILL in the midst of a battle to keep her here at home with us in the U.S. We have already had to rearrange hearing dates, the next one of which will be mid-December.
Any funds donated will be put towards her medical costs, hospice care, and the fight to keep her at home with us. These are vital necessities and we have started this GoFundMe to help us obtain them. Any size donation would be greatly appreciated and an immense help.
I am a strong believer in the ability we have to help one another. Time and time again, GoFundMe has helped hundreds of people get their life back together or obtain goals in life they would have otherwise never reached. <3
I truly appreciate all the love and support from all my friends and family. I will keep you all updated throughout this whole ordeal. Thank you, once again!
- Edsson
Organizer
Edsson Rodriguez
Organizer
Pomona, CA
