Tina's Fight
Donation protected
My sister, Tina Elizabeth (Harris) Manzi, 52, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of 2008, less than 5 months after we lost our brother to brain and lung cancer. She luckily caught it before it became serious. She was considered Stage 2 to 3. In June of 2008 she had a complete masectomy and her first set of lymph glands removed. She started chemo the following month and in the beginning of 2009 she was deemed 'cancer free'. She had follow up appointments and took the medication to help block the estrogen receptors from making the cancer come back.
In November 2014, her back began to hurt. She went to her family doctor and was sent to an orthopedic doctor. They took x-rays and came to the conclusion that she had arthritis and a possible pinched nerve. They prescribed her muscle relaxers and pain medication. By Christmas she could barely walk or sit. The doctor told her that there may be a disc issue and physical therapy would help. So she began that. She started to become very dizzy and her balance was unsteady. On January 24, 2015, while visiting her boyfriend, Mike, at St.Joseph's hospital, she got dizzy and fell. They rushed her to the ER. They took blood and knew right away something was wrong. She was transferred to Upstate a few days later where her own oncology doctors could do testing. They found that the breast cancer had 'awoken' and had spread. They found it in the lining of her brain and in her spine and it had broken thru to the bone marrow. She spent 19 days in the hospital. They have told her that it is terminal, but they won't give her a time that she will have with us. She can no longer work. She has been an employeed at Heritage Lincoln for 35 years.
But she needs some help. She would not allow me to do a benefit the last time she had cancer. With having to apply for permanent disablility then social security, the thought of the mounting bills to come is an unneeded stress for Tina.
She is going to fight and do whatever she can to stay with us as long as she can.
My sister has always been a fighter. She raised me. I am who I am because of her. She is not just my sister, but my best friend. Our family is very small, but we are ready to fight with her. We lost our dad to brain and lung cancer in November 1982 and we lost our mom in December 2012 to complications from COPD. Our brother passed in December 2007 due to brain and lung cancer as well.
Her twin brother, Dwayne.... Our oldest sister, Barb.... and I, Dianna, thank you for any help and prayers.
In November 2014, her back began to hurt. She went to her family doctor and was sent to an orthopedic doctor. They took x-rays and came to the conclusion that she had arthritis and a possible pinched nerve. They prescribed her muscle relaxers and pain medication. By Christmas she could barely walk or sit. The doctor told her that there may be a disc issue and physical therapy would help. So she began that. She started to become very dizzy and her balance was unsteady. On January 24, 2015, while visiting her boyfriend, Mike, at St.Joseph's hospital, she got dizzy and fell. They rushed her to the ER. They took blood and knew right away something was wrong. She was transferred to Upstate a few days later where her own oncology doctors could do testing. They found that the breast cancer had 'awoken' and had spread. They found it in the lining of her brain and in her spine and it had broken thru to the bone marrow. She spent 19 days in the hospital. They have told her that it is terminal, but they won't give her a time that she will have with us. She can no longer work. She has been an employeed at Heritage Lincoln for 35 years.
But she needs some help. She would not allow me to do a benefit the last time she had cancer. With having to apply for permanent disablility then social security, the thought of the mounting bills to come is an unneeded stress for Tina.
She is going to fight and do whatever she can to stay with us as long as she can.
My sister has always been a fighter. She raised me. I am who I am because of her. She is not just my sister, but my best friend. Our family is very small, but we are ready to fight with her. We lost our dad to brain and lung cancer in November 1982 and we lost our mom in December 2012 to complications from COPD. Our brother passed in December 2007 due to brain and lung cancer as well.
Her twin brother, Dwayne.... Our oldest sister, Barb.... and I, Dianna, thank you for any help and prayers.
Organizer
Dianna Harris Petrangelo
Organizer
Syracuse, NY