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HELP US GIVE BACK TO MISSY WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
Missy Gives to Family, Friends and Community --Missy has always been a GIVER. She is a teacher for Chesterfield County schools and works with young toddlers with special needs and their families (one of a handful of Nationally Board Certified teachers in the county). She took a leave of absence to help when her father fought against brain tumors, and was by his side until the end. Missy helped at church with the grief support group, as well as teaching Sunday school, until her health prohibited her from continuing. Missy stays involved with her mother and both her grandmothers and helps in any way she can. Missy has stayed by the side and supported a good friend as she battled breast cancer. She takes in stray cats and gives them a home. Missy gives to anyone in need, and she always has. Now it’s her turn to fight and we need others to GIVE BACK TO MISSY.
Missy’s Battle with Esophageal Cancer
In December of 2014 Missy was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She underwent chemo and radiation treatment. For Missy, who has suffered from Type 1 diabetes since she was a child and who has a rare blood clotting disorder, the treatment was horribly brutal. In May 2015, after the tumor had shrunk, Missy had surgery to remove it. She healed slowly, returned to work and was feeling better everyday.
Lost Time Due to Doctor Error
Then in July 2016, after a routine scan, another growth was found, but not by her doctor. Missy found the growth on her own when she was looking at the scans that were posted on her medical record account online. She called her oncologist, but he assured her it was not esophageal cancer. He advised her not to worry and to see her regular GYN. Her GYN was alarmed by the growth and quickly referred her to a GYN oncologist. Missy underwent surgery, but since the tumor was in a tricky place that was not able to be removed by laparoscopy, tissue was taken for a biopsy. The surgeon reassured Missy it was not cancer and sent it through regular channels for testing, which took weeks. When the results came back, it was determined it WAS esophageal cancer and that it had metastasized next to her ovaries. OVER TWO MONTHS had passed from her original scan before she was able to see a NEW esophageal cancer oncologist. The tumor had grown to over the size of a tennis ball, and due to the size and location, surgery was no longer an option. Missy and Adam went to John Hopkins for a second opinion, unfortunately they said there was nothing they could do to help. Missy is starting up again with chemotherapy treatments, with the hopes of shrinking the tumor.
Missy and Adam
Missy is a truly kind and gentle person. She is only 38 and has the almost childlike innocence of a person with a pure soul, devoted to family and God. Missy maintains a positive attitude and is determined to fight this horrible disease. But she is facing huge odds, as this type of cancer has a 3% survival rate after 5 years. Missy’s husband, Adam , is truly devoted to her. He has taken her to every appointment and treatment and has been with her throughout this journey, and he hopes to be able to stay by her side during this next chapter in her fight against cancer. Fortunately, Adam is self-employed and able to work around her treatments. However, he doesn’t get paid when he doesn’t work. Missy worries that she will be unable to work throughout her treatments, and medical bills and living expenses will continue to grow.
More Scary Than Death itself
Missy is scared to die. But there are things that frighten her even more. Missy knows what it is like to stay by the side and watch a loved one slip away and she is really scared for her husband to have to go through that. And knowing that this battle she is facing could potentially cause her husband to lose not only the love of his life, but also his home and his livelihood is unbearable. Please Help us GIVE BACK to Missy.
The physical and emotional stress of Missy's cancer is exacerbated by this financial stress. Missy and Adam did not ask us to start a GOFUND me campaign. But, as her friends, we look to find ways to take any outside stress away from her and Adam. Missy is loved by, and has been touched by, so many caring people, people who are looking for a way to help. This can be one way. Please give what you can, even a couple of dollars help add up. And please post our link on your FACEBOOK page and spread the word to everyone you know.
Posted by Missy’s friends Patti, Debbie, Becky, Donna, Maggi, Carol, Kathy, and Shannon
Missy Gives to Family, Friends and Community --Missy has always been a GIVER. She is a teacher for Chesterfield County schools and works with young toddlers with special needs and their families (one of a handful of Nationally Board Certified teachers in the county). She took a leave of absence to help when her father fought against brain tumors, and was by his side until the end. Missy helped at church with the grief support group, as well as teaching Sunday school, until her health prohibited her from continuing. Missy stays involved with her mother and both her grandmothers and helps in any way she can. Missy has stayed by the side and supported a good friend as she battled breast cancer. She takes in stray cats and gives them a home. Missy gives to anyone in need, and she always has. Now it’s her turn to fight and we need others to GIVE BACK TO MISSY.
Missy’s Battle with Esophageal Cancer
In December of 2014 Missy was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She underwent chemo and radiation treatment. For Missy, who has suffered from Type 1 diabetes since she was a child and who has a rare blood clotting disorder, the treatment was horribly brutal. In May 2015, after the tumor had shrunk, Missy had surgery to remove it. She healed slowly, returned to work and was feeling better everyday.
Lost Time Due to Doctor Error
Then in July 2016, after a routine scan, another growth was found, but not by her doctor. Missy found the growth on her own when she was looking at the scans that were posted on her medical record account online. She called her oncologist, but he assured her it was not esophageal cancer. He advised her not to worry and to see her regular GYN. Her GYN was alarmed by the growth and quickly referred her to a GYN oncologist. Missy underwent surgery, but since the tumor was in a tricky place that was not able to be removed by laparoscopy, tissue was taken for a biopsy. The surgeon reassured Missy it was not cancer and sent it through regular channels for testing, which took weeks. When the results came back, it was determined it WAS esophageal cancer and that it had metastasized next to her ovaries. OVER TWO MONTHS had passed from her original scan before she was able to see a NEW esophageal cancer oncologist. The tumor had grown to over the size of a tennis ball, and due to the size and location, surgery was no longer an option. Missy and Adam went to John Hopkins for a second opinion, unfortunately they said there was nothing they could do to help. Missy is starting up again with chemotherapy treatments, with the hopes of shrinking the tumor.
Missy and Adam
Missy is a truly kind and gentle person. She is only 38 and has the almost childlike innocence of a person with a pure soul, devoted to family and God. Missy maintains a positive attitude and is determined to fight this horrible disease. But she is facing huge odds, as this type of cancer has a 3% survival rate after 5 years. Missy’s husband, Adam , is truly devoted to her. He has taken her to every appointment and treatment and has been with her throughout this journey, and he hopes to be able to stay by her side during this next chapter in her fight against cancer. Fortunately, Adam is self-employed and able to work around her treatments. However, he doesn’t get paid when he doesn’t work. Missy worries that she will be unable to work throughout her treatments, and medical bills and living expenses will continue to grow.
More Scary Than Death itself
Missy is scared to die. But there are things that frighten her even more. Missy knows what it is like to stay by the side and watch a loved one slip away and she is really scared for her husband to have to go through that. And knowing that this battle she is facing could potentially cause her husband to lose not only the love of his life, but also his home and his livelihood is unbearable. Please Help us GIVE BACK to Missy.
The physical and emotional stress of Missy's cancer is exacerbated by this financial stress. Missy and Adam did not ask us to start a GOFUND me campaign. But, as her friends, we look to find ways to take any outside stress away from her and Adam. Missy is loved by, and has been touched by, so many caring people, people who are looking for a way to help. This can be one way. Please give what you can, even a couple of dollars help add up. And please post our link on your FACEBOOK page and spread the word to everyone you know.
Posted by Missy’s friends Patti, Debbie, Becky, Donna, Maggi, Carol, Kathy, and Shannon
Organizer and beneficiary
Melissa Samko
Beneficiary