Help Momma Fight Lymphoma
Donation protected
East TN nurse, Debbie Begley, spent her whole life helping others. Please help her in her fight against cancer so she can watch her daughter get married NYE 2018.
See below for details.
March 8 sent a shockwave through our family when we learned our mom, Debbie, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma. Originally diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy a few weeks earlier, Mom knew something was not right after weeks of medicine and no recovery. On March 8 she arrived at the ER. After many tests - we learned our Mom had lymphoma not only in her lymphatic system, but also in her central nervous system. Leaving us with a diagnosis of Stage 4 Lymphoma. We were shocked. Unfortunately, she laid in the hospital for nearly a week with no treatment or plan of action so it aggressively spread throughout her body - causing severe dehydration, vision loss, and potential paralysis of the left side of her face. By God’s grace and perfect plan, we were able to transport Mom to UT Cancer Institute in Knoxville, Tennessee where she is now being treated by her wonderful oncologist Dr. Hanna and his amazing associates. They have chosen an aggressive form of chemotherapy called Hyper-CVAD which will be administered through her double port and also through her spine. Their hope and plan is the chemo to get to her brain as quickly as possible. She has completed 3 cycles of Chemotherapy and the plan is to continue for 6 more. Her chemo treatment requires her to be in the hospital for 5 days every cycle and scan her every 2 cycles to see how she is responding to the chemotherapy and then her doctors will decide how they need to tweak the treatement. They are hoping once the chemotherapy begins to kill the lymphoma she will begin to see some relief in her symptoms. Unfortunately, the chemo treatments have been delayed due to set backs she is having from the aggressive Chemo. She continues to fight despite the setbacks and is very optimistic on a full recovery.
Mom has spent the last 15 years as a nurse loving and caring for individuals. Her main goal in life is to help others - especially children. She has worked the latter part of her nursing career in pediatrics and most recently working as an in home nurse to a beautiful boy, whom she adores. Her love for nursing and children has given her so much joy and fulfillment in life.
Unfortunately, with the exuberant costs of insurance her company did not provide an adequate insurance package that Mom could afford. Leaving her with a job she loved, but no insurance. As we move forward through the process, the medical bills have become more and more intimidating and we must do what needs to be done to achieve the cure.
If you have had the opportunity to be around Debbie or share conversation with her then you know she has one of the kindest and most caring souls of anyone around. In all of life, even now, she remains consistent in her loving attitude and high spirits. She sees God’s beauty in all people and every circumstance. She is very relieved to have a plan in place and we are all ready to fight this head on. Momma is fighter and she’s ready to rock and roll with this treatment! Praise be to God that He is in control and with us every step of the way.
Mom has been able to experience so many wonderful things in her life. She has watched both children graduate from college, witnessed her son, Travis, marry his strong and beautiful wife, Emily, experience the birth of her first granddaughter, sweet Adalynn Ann, and is currently counting down the days to celebrate the marriage of her daughter, Desiree, and handsome future son-in-law, José, at the end of 2018.
Mom is in great hands at UT medical center with Dr. Hanna and his wonderful staff doing everyting they can to help her recover. She has moved in with her son, Travis, his wife, Emily, and their 2 year old daughter Adalynn. They live only 5 miles from the hospital and she is in excellent care. Little Addy keeps her 'Mimis" spirits up and helps her fight this disease.
We are setting our eyes on the future which is life after Lymphoma with our sweet momma. Our goal is to raise funds to balance the increasing medical debt as Debbie fights with everything she has to beat this.
"God listen to my cry; pay attention to my prayer! When my heart is weak, I cry out to you from the ends of the earth. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am, because you have been my refuge, a tower of strength in the face on the enemy. Please let me live in your tent forever! Please let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings!" Psalm 61:1-4
See below for details.
March 8 sent a shockwave through our family when we learned our mom, Debbie, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma. Originally diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy a few weeks earlier, Mom knew something was not right after weeks of medicine and no recovery. On March 8 she arrived at the ER. After many tests - we learned our Mom had lymphoma not only in her lymphatic system, but also in her central nervous system. Leaving us with a diagnosis of Stage 4 Lymphoma. We were shocked. Unfortunately, she laid in the hospital for nearly a week with no treatment or plan of action so it aggressively spread throughout her body - causing severe dehydration, vision loss, and potential paralysis of the left side of her face. By God’s grace and perfect plan, we were able to transport Mom to UT Cancer Institute in Knoxville, Tennessee where she is now being treated by her wonderful oncologist Dr. Hanna and his amazing associates. They have chosen an aggressive form of chemotherapy called Hyper-CVAD which will be administered through her double port and also through her spine. Their hope and plan is the chemo to get to her brain as quickly as possible. She has completed 3 cycles of Chemotherapy and the plan is to continue for 6 more. Her chemo treatment requires her to be in the hospital for 5 days every cycle and scan her every 2 cycles to see how she is responding to the chemotherapy and then her doctors will decide how they need to tweak the treatement. They are hoping once the chemotherapy begins to kill the lymphoma she will begin to see some relief in her symptoms. Unfortunately, the chemo treatments have been delayed due to set backs she is having from the aggressive Chemo. She continues to fight despite the setbacks and is very optimistic on a full recovery.
Mom has spent the last 15 years as a nurse loving and caring for individuals. Her main goal in life is to help others - especially children. She has worked the latter part of her nursing career in pediatrics and most recently working as an in home nurse to a beautiful boy, whom she adores. Her love for nursing and children has given her so much joy and fulfillment in life.
Unfortunately, with the exuberant costs of insurance her company did not provide an adequate insurance package that Mom could afford. Leaving her with a job she loved, but no insurance. As we move forward through the process, the medical bills have become more and more intimidating and we must do what needs to be done to achieve the cure.
If you have had the opportunity to be around Debbie or share conversation with her then you know she has one of the kindest and most caring souls of anyone around. In all of life, even now, she remains consistent in her loving attitude and high spirits. She sees God’s beauty in all people and every circumstance. She is very relieved to have a plan in place and we are all ready to fight this head on. Momma is fighter and she’s ready to rock and roll with this treatment! Praise be to God that He is in control and with us every step of the way.
Mom has been able to experience so many wonderful things in her life. She has watched both children graduate from college, witnessed her son, Travis, marry his strong and beautiful wife, Emily, experience the birth of her first granddaughter, sweet Adalynn Ann, and is currently counting down the days to celebrate the marriage of her daughter, Desiree, and handsome future son-in-law, José, at the end of 2018.
Mom is in great hands at UT medical center with Dr. Hanna and his wonderful staff doing everyting they can to help her recover. She has moved in with her son, Travis, his wife, Emily, and their 2 year old daughter Adalynn. They live only 5 miles from the hospital and she is in excellent care. Little Addy keeps her 'Mimis" spirits up and helps her fight this disease.
We are setting our eyes on the future which is life after Lymphoma with our sweet momma. Our goal is to raise funds to balance the increasing medical debt as Debbie fights with everything she has to beat this.
"God listen to my cry; pay attention to my prayer! When my heart is weak, I cry out to you from the ends of the earth. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am, because you have been my refuge, a tower of strength in the face on the enemy. Please let me live in your tent forever! Please let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings!" Psalm 61:1-4
Fundraising team (2)
Desiree McKinney
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
Travis McKinney
Team member
