Help my mom and me kick cancer’s ass!

My name is Maria Kyllingstad, my mom is Sue Kyllingstad, and here is our story:

On January 4th, 2024, our family was hit with truly unimaginable news that flipped our world’s upside down.

I went in to my PCP in West Des Moines with symptoms of shortness of breath and trouble swallowing. Upon further testing, they discovered a large mass in my chest that was compressing my heart, lungs, esophagus, and trachea. As my mom was on her way from West Branch to be with me after hearing the news, she had a seizure at the wheel near Williamsburg (by some miracle she was able to pull over to the shoulder and put her car in park) and was transported unresponsive via ambulance back to UIHC. While waiting for next steps at the hospital in Des Moines where I received my chest CT, I got the dreaded call from UIHC. This prompted my decision to come back to Iowa City to both be with my mom and instead pursue further diagnostics here.

After running tests on both me and my mom, I was unfortunately diagnosed with Lymphoma and will have to undergo steroid, chemo, and radiation therapy. My mom was diagnosed with a small brain tumor in her parietal lobe, which they believe caused her seizure. She had it surgically removed yesterday and is recovering well, but most likely will have to undergo radiation therapy herself after her biopsy results come in.

We are so thankful for our doctors, nurses, and all the incredible staff here at UIHC - despite how insane, unreal, unfathomable (the list can go on) our situation is, we are both confident we were in the right place at the right time and we know they will provide us with the absolute best care we need.

Now my family and I are not the type to beg for sympathy or ask for financial help in any way - but with one surgery down and two separate cancer treatments to follow, we know the bills will start piling up soon. Even if you cannot donate - some kind/reassuring words, dropping off some home cooked meals, or helping out in any other way would mean the world to us. Special thanks to everyone who has already reached out to help our family during this unbelievably difficult time.❤️ We both know we have a long and unknown road ahead of us, but we are staying positive, lucky to have each other to lean on, and hopeful for TWO successful outcomes.