Mother with Terminal Cancer
Donation protected
In February of 2015, at 34 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a sentinel lymph node biopsy and a bilateral mastectomy. My breast surgeon & my oncologist both said my chance of reoccurrence was low. Really low.
Here I am before the lymph node biopsy and the scar after:
Here I am after my mastectomy. Worst recovery ever..
So after all this, my husband and I were left with over 7k in medical bills. And for almost one whole year I thought I was in the clear. but in March 2016....it was back. With a vengeance. The cancer had metastasized to my right hip, my ribs, my skull and my spine. It was devastating. I had a bone marrow biopsy to confirm it. Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Immediately I was put on a handful of drugs. One of them, that was suppressing my ovaries, had a horrible side effect. I was hospitalized for tachycardia. (Heart bearing too fast, it was clocked at 240 at its highest). So that led to an ER visit, a hospital stay and working with an EP for my heart. Luckily, it only took him a few months to figure it out. Since then my heart is ok and I have had two lines of treatment for the cancer. I got three years out of the first one, which was amazing. But a few months ago it failed and the cancer grew. It spread additionally in my bones. Now a HUGE percentage of my skeleton is covered in cancer lesions. My bone pain, fatigue and other side effects have increased and my husband and I now have 6k in medical bills a year to pay for everything. (Our insurance out of pocket MAX). I worked for a while, but then I was told because I have a terminal illness I could get disability. (there is NO cure for breast cancer. The early stages are very treatable, but stage 4 will kill me as soon as I run out of treatment.) So I jumped at the chance for disability so I could take care of me and be a stay at home mom for my daughter. Working was extremely hard on me physically with the pain and side effects and my kid was struggling. Can you imagine finding out at 7 years old that your mom has cancer and at 8 years old knowing it will kill her? I can’t. She has horrible anxiety. It breaks my heart. Now my family and I live our lives 3 months at a time. (I get a CT and a bone scan every three months to check on if the treatments are working). Life is hard, but I am so grateful to be here. The debilitating pain can usually be numbed by painkillers, I can take stuff to help me banish the insomnia and I can rest when I am too fatigued and when I need help I try to ask for it - but it’s hard. We always need help. Anyways, this is me. I was asked to do this go fund me, and the generous spirit behind that brings me to tears. Thank you.
Here I am before the lymph node biopsy and the scar after:
Here I am after my mastectomy. Worst recovery ever..
So after all this, my husband and I were left with over 7k in medical bills. And for almost one whole year I thought I was in the clear. but in March 2016....it was back. With a vengeance. The cancer had metastasized to my right hip, my ribs, my skull and my spine. It was devastating. I had a bone marrow biopsy to confirm it. Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Immediately I was put on a handful of drugs. One of them, that was suppressing my ovaries, had a horrible side effect. I was hospitalized for tachycardia. (Heart bearing too fast, it was clocked at 240 at its highest). So that led to an ER visit, a hospital stay and working with an EP for my heart. Luckily, it only took him a few months to figure it out. Since then my heart is ok and I have had two lines of treatment for the cancer. I got three years out of the first one, which was amazing. But a few months ago it failed and the cancer grew. It spread additionally in my bones. Now a HUGE percentage of my skeleton is covered in cancer lesions. My bone pain, fatigue and other side effects have increased and my husband and I now have 6k in medical bills a year to pay for everything. (Our insurance out of pocket MAX). I worked for a while, but then I was told because I have a terminal illness I could get disability. (there is NO cure for breast cancer. The early stages are very treatable, but stage 4 will kill me as soon as I run out of treatment.) So I jumped at the chance for disability so I could take care of me and be a stay at home mom for my daughter. Working was extremely hard on me physically with the pain and side effects and my kid was struggling. Can you imagine finding out at 7 years old that your mom has cancer and at 8 years old knowing it will kill her? I can’t. She has horrible anxiety. It breaks my heart. Now my family and I live our lives 3 months at a time. (I get a CT and a bone scan every three months to check on if the treatments are working). Life is hard, but I am so grateful to be here. The debilitating pain can usually be numbed by painkillers, I can take stuff to help me banish the insomnia and I can rest when I am too fatigued and when I need help I try to ask for it - but it’s hard. We always need help. Anyways, this is me. I was asked to do this go fund me, and the generous spirit behind that brings me to tears. Thank you.
Organizer
Erika Peterson
Organizer
Rathdrum, ID