My cancer come back

Cancer doesn't happen to you... it happens for you! Well, that has been my approach. You can either wish you were dead or take on the challenge, at times over the last 6 years... I have entertained both.

THE PAST

A brief backstory on how I got to where I am today... late summer of 2017 I took my nephew to a concert, Def leopard of all things. During the concert in a moment of excitement, he jumped up... his head hit my nose. This moment in time in hindsight is the exact moment my life changed and probably saved my life. What that injury uncovered changed, but saved my life, what was growing inside most definitely would have killed me if gone undetected.

Over the next couple of months and a series of misdiagnoses, and medical miss handlings... we finally got to the correct diagnosis... In October 2017 the terrifying phrase, " you have stage 4 cancer”were uttered. I had squamous carcinoma cancer (on the inside of my nose). Initial treatment plans were a terrifying rhinectomy, which is the surgical removal of your nose and a portion of your face (don't google it, I did of course)! If you are like me you always thought you know or had an idea of how the recipients of a diagnosis containing the "C" word must feel. What I can remember when hearing those words were XXXXXX, XXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX. But no one knows until they have had to walk the path of cancer.

Like most challenging times in my life, I approached this with the mindset of what are other options ... there has to be an alternative path to cutting my face off. I reached out to The University of Virginia's - Oncology Dept. and fell into the first group of angels in this journey.

January of 2018 a new year and the fight begins. An aggressive radiation & chemo treatment plan... thankfully my cancer was responsive to radiation. The effects of chemo and radiation on a person physically and emotionally can never be explained. Maybe a proper analogy on the range of emotions would be from the highest highs to the depression levels of death. As cancer, chemo and radiation took my taste buds, my smell, my energy, and at times my will to live... I would avoid looking in mirrors... each glance a person I didn't know would stare back at me. Losing 40% of my body mass and watching my nose literally start to disappear as cancer retreated.

Once you have cancer you "never don't" have cancer or the nagging thoughts of, "is it coming back". The treatment of my cancer was successful to date and for that, I am grateful, I continue to have good test results that there aren't any active cancer cells.

The 2nd phase in this process... A bandaid of sorts/reconstructive approach was done via 6 surgeries over the past three years. These procedures covered the gaping hole in my nose left by cancer and did their best to create a nose shape. I am thankful for the work that has been done vs. the alternative once proposed...a prosthetic nose and face held on by "magnets".

PRESENT

And now the purpose of this request for assistance. Those that know me can attest ... I rarely if ever ask for assistance. It's a perfect example of the phrase "cancer happens for you not to you." It is time for full reconstructive surgery.

It is a price tag that is hard-hitting and being self-employed on a fixed income will be challenging. I have found a doctor that specializes in cancer reconstruction and they are based in Dallas.

The procedure will require my relocation to Dallas. What I am hoping to achieve via this fundraising page is financial assistance to help with/cover the costs or  medical, relocation etc The money given by incredible angels will help to cover the 

housing, transport, living expenses, and general medical needs.

It is humbling to be in the position to ask for help and to accept it when given... but over the past 6 years I have learned a lot about myself, and about the strength and support others can and do provide.