Nichole Byrnes' Breast Cancer Battle
Donation protected
CURRENT BREAST CANCER SCREENING GUIDELINES SUGGEST ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS FOR WOMEN AGED 40 AND OVER
Nichole is my only niece.
She is the only female born into our family for a generation.
To say that we cherish her is an understatement.
She is 39.
I guess someone forgot to tell the cancer it was supposed to wait !
Thankfully, where we live the Cleveland Clinic offers convenient mammogram screenings for anyone six days a week.
You don't even need an appointment.. but....
If you make the mistake of telling them you found a lump- they won't take you.
That's right! Now the appointment will be delayed by up to a month, or even longer... because you are sick. REALLY....... ???
Yep! ........ HAPPY BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH !!!!!
How We Got Here
Several weeks ago Nichole found a lump in her breast. She immediately called to schedule a mammogram at the clinic, and was surprised to learn that she was ineligible for this service because she found a lump.
She would now need to wait for the first available appointment.... over a month away.
She scheduled this, but decided to see her regular doctor sooner.
While waiting, she worried.. remembering how tired she had been for the past few months...but she was working nights, and busy with the kids...
We were all concerned. Nichole has always been healthy.
'It appeared too suddenly to be cancer'. 'Breast cancer doesn't act that way'. 'It must be an infection'. These were the things we told ourselves, and each other.
After all-Nikki, my sisters, and I are practically-doctors' with degrees from both Life Experience and Google Universities.
Her first appointment was in early September.
She was told that she most likely just has very dense breast tissue due to Fibrocystic breast disease.
This condition is common and benign, meaning that it is not malignant (cancerous).
It was suggested that she keep the appointment she had initially made at Cleveland Clinic for a mammogram....'just to be safe'.
We all breathed a sigh of relief.
I thought about how if it was me, I would probably just cancel that second appointment...
Who has time?
Thankfully, Nikki isn't me.. and she made time..
They performed a mammogram, and then an ultrasound.
Afterwards, they said there were two areas they would be needing to biopsy.
The Diagnosis
After a long weekend the news came; and while most of us were stunned,
the diagnosis seemed to just confirm what Nichole had feared all along...
she has breast cancer.
Nichole took this news with unbelievable resolve.
When she called me to tell me.. she was comforting me..
She never complained or said 'why me?' Not once!
Her main concern was how to explain what is coming to her children.
Her daughter, Sophia, just turned seven, and is much too young to understand what is happening; but she already senses that something is very wrong with Mommy.
She feels bad causing her son, Dominic, anxiety. She feels guilty that without her income her husband will be unable to cover their monthly expenses.
She is just sad that her being sick is going to hurt them.
I try to stress the importance of taking care of herself now, but she has a car payment due and has to save as much as she can before she can't work.
They will be underwater financially soon.
It makes me sad that I can't argue.
The day after getting her diagnosis, they call from the Clinic to schedule appointments with surgery, oncology, radiation oncology and plastic surgery. She will need to fit these appointments in between working as a server and caring for her children.
At the first appointment with the surgeon, four more biopsies were taken of a 'suspicious lymph node'.
Again it is a weekend...and another agonizing wait.
I stop by to see her.
It is her husband's birthday. His first since losing his father unexpectedly, just a few short months ago.
I feel obligated to say Happy Birthday. He feels obligated to smile.
I wonder if I look as scared as he does.
The call comes, and at this time the cancer has not spread.
We celebrate this! It seems so strange to be 'happy' about anything having to do with this horrible illness.
The not-so-good news is that the cancer she has is a very aggressive form. It tends to spread easily, and has a high rate of recurrence. The doctor likened it to blowing dandelion seeds into the wind and trying to recapture them all.
I really do not like this analogy!
Due to this fact, Nichole will now be facing a double mastectomy on Wednesday, November 20th.
What Happens Next
This past week, Nikki learned that she is not a candidate for the surgery which would have allowed the removal and reconstruction of her breasts in one procedure. She will now be facing a second brutal operation just months after the first.
We are still reeling! We are absolutely heartbroken as we begin to understand the
battle that lies ahead for our beloved, Nichole.
It is difficult for me to even imagine how frightened she must be, but it is
absolutely inconceivable to me that she will be worrying about paying the electric bill and car payment, or how to afford groceries while fighting for her life.
Why We Need Your Help
If you aren't lucky enough to know Nichole personally, she is amazing!
She is a devoted wife to the love of her life, Marc.
She is a fiercely protective and loving mother to their children, Dominic and Sophia.
She has a heart of gold, and gives of herself unselfishly.
She is always the first to step up and be a true friend to any person, or animal in need.
Now she needs help!
Our entire family will be assisting financially, and with every aspect of her care.
Sadly, I fear that we will not be able to do this alone.
The recovery from these surgeries will be extensive, and painful. She will not be able to work for several months following each surgery, and quite possibly much longer. There is no short or long term disability, or FMLA protection for restaurant workers.
It is our hope that with this fund, we might cover Nichole's share of their monthly household expenses while she is undergoing treatment. This does not begin to take into consideration the staggering medical costs for her care.
If you would like further documentation of the legitimacy of any aspect of this story prior to making a donation, you are welcome to contact me personally.
For anyone wishing to help Nichole and her family, a donation of any amount would be so very appreciated.
I will continue to post regular updates here, for those wishing to follow her story.
From Nichole, and on behalf of our entire family.
THANK YOU !!!
At the first appointment with the surgeon, four more biopsies were taken of a 'suspicious lymph node'.
Again it is a weekend...and another agonizing wait.
I stop by to see her.
It is her husband's birthday. His first since losing his father unexpectedly, just a few short months ago.
I feel obligated to say Happy Birthday. He feels obligated to smile.
I wonder if I look as scared as he does.
The call comes, and at this time the cancer has not spread.
We celebrate this! It seems so strange to be 'happy' about anything having to do with this horrible illness.
The not-so-good news is that the cancer she has is a very aggressive form. It tends to spread easily, and has a high rate of recurrence. The doctor likened it to blowing dandelion seeds into the wind and trying to recapture them all.
I really do not like this analogy!
Due to this fact, Nichole will now be facing a double mastectomy on Wednesday, November 20th.
What Happens Next
This past week, Nikki learned that she is not a candidate for the surgery which would have allowed the removal and reconstruction of her breasts in one procedure. She will now be facing a second brutal operation just months after the first.
We are still reeling! We are absolutely heartbroken as we begin to understand the
battle that lies ahead for our beloved, Nichole.
It is difficult for me to even imagine how frightened she must be, but it is
absolutely inconceivable to me that she will be worrying about paying the electric bill and car payment, or how to afford groceries while fighting for her life.
Why We Need Your Help
If you aren't lucky enough to know Nichole personally, she is amazing!
She is a devoted wife to the love of her life, Marc.
She is a fiercely protective and loving mother to their children, Dominic and Sophia.
She has a heart of gold, and gives of herself unselfishly.
She is always the first to step up and be a true friend to any person, or animal in need.
Now she needs help!
Our entire family will be assisting financially, and with every aspect of her care.
Sadly, I fear that we will not be able to do this alone.
The recovery from these surgeries will be extensive, and painful. She will not be able to work for several months following each surgery, and quite possibly much longer. There is no short or long term disability, or FMLA protection for restaurant workers.
It is our hope that with this fund, we might cover Nichole's share of their monthly household expenses while she is undergoing treatment. This does not begin to take into consideration the staggering medical costs for her care.
If you would like further documentation of the legitimacy of any aspect of this story prior to making a donation, you are welcome to contact me personally.
For anyone wishing to help Nichole and her family, a donation of any amount would be so very appreciated.
I will continue to post regular updates here, for those wishing to follow her story.
From Nichole, and on behalf of our entire family.
THANK YOU !!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lisanne Lombardo Santon
Organizer
Rock Creek, OH
Marc Byrnes
Beneficiary