Gillian's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Two months ago, Gillian turned sweet 16….last week she was diagnosed with a very rare form of ovarian cancer, in its advanced stages.
Ovarian cancer starts in the ovaries. It can be hard to recognise in the early stages, because the symptoms are often pretty vague and because some of them – like bloating and stomach pain – are easy to confuse with period symptoms. Gillian’s symptoms warranted a few trips to the walk in clinic and ultimately visits to the emergency room. She was admitted into the hospital in early February and taken by ambulance to the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto after one day. She spent the next month patiently enduring every diagnostic test the doctors recommended to aid in diagnosing her mysterious illness. Finally, diagnostic surgery was decided upon, and some cancerous cells were found within Gillian’s abdomen. After careful examination and extensive pathological review, Gillian was diagnosed with Stage 4A Ovarian Cancer. This is highly uncommon in someone her age.
Prior to the arrival of her symptoms, Gillian was an extremely active athlete, dancing competitively, at a studio in Oakville, rehearsing 10-12 hours a week, as well as attending a High School for the Arts, where she majors in Dance. Unfortunately, her illness has left her extremely fatigued, in a significant amount of pain that she manages incredibly, despite its increasing persistence and without much of an appetite.
Gillian will be having surgery as soon as possible, and after a few weeks of recovery from the surgery, will begin chemotherapy. She hopes to complete her scholastic year and maintain her place on the Honour Roll with the help of tutors until she is able to attend school again. With some physiotherapy assistance, she hopes to rejoin her dance studio in the fall for another competitive season.
She is such an incredibly strong and courageous young woman, handling this stressful and serious situation with such poise and grace. She is an example to all of us, of patience and perserverence with an indominable spirit.
Please join us in this battle for Gillian to overcome her cancer. Whatever amount you can contribute will greatly help her family through this difficult time. The expenses will be significant, for her prescriptions, medical supplies, tutoring, and physical therapy. If you are unable to donate, we just as much appreciate you sharing this with your friends and social media contacts, keeping Gillian in your thoughts, sending positive energy or simply wearing something purple – her favourite colour – it all counts.
We thank each and every one of you for sharing, donating, thinking, hoping or simply for reading this, and reading Gillian’s story. Please be sure to check in occasionally for updates on Gillian’s progress. We are hopeful and strong and we will continue to help Gillian fight, together!!
Thank you.
Ovarian cancer starts in the ovaries. It can be hard to recognise in the early stages, because the symptoms are often pretty vague and because some of them – like bloating and stomach pain – are easy to confuse with period symptoms. Gillian’s symptoms warranted a few trips to the walk in clinic and ultimately visits to the emergency room. She was admitted into the hospital in early February and taken by ambulance to the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto after one day. She spent the next month patiently enduring every diagnostic test the doctors recommended to aid in diagnosing her mysterious illness. Finally, diagnostic surgery was decided upon, and some cancerous cells were found within Gillian’s abdomen. After careful examination and extensive pathological review, Gillian was diagnosed with Stage 4A Ovarian Cancer. This is highly uncommon in someone her age.
Prior to the arrival of her symptoms, Gillian was an extremely active athlete, dancing competitively, at a studio in Oakville, rehearsing 10-12 hours a week, as well as attending a High School for the Arts, where she majors in Dance. Unfortunately, her illness has left her extremely fatigued, in a significant amount of pain that she manages incredibly, despite its increasing persistence and without much of an appetite.
Gillian will be having surgery as soon as possible, and after a few weeks of recovery from the surgery, will begin chemotherapy. She hopes to complete her scholastic year and maintain her place on the Honour Roll with the help of tutors until she is able to attend school again. With some physiotherapy assistance, she hopes to rejoin her dance studio in the fall for another competitive season.
She is such an incredibly strong and courageous young woman, handling this stressful and serious situation with such poise and grace. She is an example to all of us, of patience and perserverence with an indominable spirit.
Please join us in this battle for Gillian to overcome her cancer. Whatever amount you can contribute will greatly help her family through this difficult time. The expenses will be significant, for her prescriptions, medical supplies, tutoring, and physical therapy. If you are unable to donate, we just as much appreciate you sharing this with your friends and social media contacts, keeping Gillian in your thoughts, sending positive energy or simply wearing something purple – her favourite colour – it all counts.
We thank each and every one of you for sharing, donating, thinking, hoping or simply for reading this, and reading Gillian’s story. Please be sure to check in occasionally for updates on Gillian’s progress. We are hopeful and strong and we will continue to help Gillian fight, together!!
Thank you.
Organizer
Heidi Schobel
Organizer
Mississauga, ON