This account is being set up in honor of Julia. She is unable to work due to having 9 surgeries since the beginning of the year. Please help support the kindest soul and free spirit I’ve ever met. After finding a tumor in her leg during her pregnancy, multiple surgeries left her with an infection. That infection left her with 9 large incisions in her leg that needed skin grafting. She has helped me through my hardest days and she deserves the best!! Donations received will go towards helping her pay her bills while unable to work, help with raising Baby Law, and helping pay the hospital bills that have so steadily piled up. Julia needs our help now, and if you know Julia, or knew her in the past, she would have bent over backwards to stand by someone in need. Love you Always - DeRae!!
Here is her story!!
My name is Julia (some know me as Julie). In October 2014, I found out some surprising news, I was pregnant!! Mid-June, I would be a mommy! This wasn't going to be the end of the world, just a little crazier.
Because of the years that I was always about work….work, work, work, I had to get my body in the right direction to have a baby. That took many doctor’s appointments and tests and eventually I was put into the hospital to get my diabetes under control. During my visit, I noticed, what I thought was a scar, had grown and that was causing some concern. My mom said just to have it cut off and checked out, so I did.
In January 2015, my OBGYN decided he would do it because it would be easy enough and an office visit at that! By the time the appointment came around, the growth had grown and he was a little hesitant. I said go ahead (I had already paid…LOL). It ended up being a “12 stitch surgery type thing”, instead of an “in office biopsy thing”. Either way, my friend and I took photos and went on about our way, wrapped up and limping, back to work.
About a month later (February), my doctor called and said he needed to see me. I didn't understand because I already had an appointment set for a week later. Either way, I called my mom and she said she would go with me. At the time I did not understand, but after the doctor started to look weary, I understood, it wasn't good. I had been diagnosed with skin cancer. Melanoma to be exact, and apparently it was a little worse than the normal "find a new mole and have it removed" kind. Mine was deeper and thicker... aggressive, they called it.
My doctor made follow up appointments with the Mitchell Cancer Institute. In March, I met Dr. Tan, he got to know me and my family and wanted to do whatever possible, but during pregnancy, not much can be done. I had my second surgery (planned on an off day), where he cleared the margins. I call it my shark bite because that is what it looked like. After a couple days in the hospital, I went back to work to continue on.
In April, I moved to Semmes, Alabama to be closer to my family for help with the baby. I had another “procedure” to do on my centennial lymph nodes, to check the area out. Pregnant, open wounds that would not heal, and now moving, all while still working…things were getting crazy! My doctors were getting nervous because my body was weak and yet I still continued to push harder. New specialists were brought onto my case (due to being pregnant with diabetes and cancer didn’t help)! We decided that it would be best to take Baby Law early.
On May 11th, my High Risk OBGYN decided it was time to go to the hospital. My legs were overly swollen (from working and the surgeries causing stress) and my blood pressure was through the roof. On May 13th, 5 weeks early, Baby Law had to be taken by C-Section. He was beautiful, or handsome, might I say! Baby Law had to stay in the NICU for 18 days, to learn how to eat. That little stinker would just fall asleep and expect you to put it in his little tube. But after a while, he picked up the skill and began to eat by himself and could come home!! All in all, he saved me, because of him; we found the cancer and could move on!
While out on leave in June, my doctor said it was time to do the PET scan. After getting results, we needed to do another surgery on my centennial lymph nodes. We agreed and ended up 2 out of 3 of the lymph nodes that were removed from my groin had cancer in them, meaning it had spread. I was tired of this already but understood that I didn’t get to just walk away from it.
I went back to work for about 2 weeks (before I probably should have because, of course, the wound opened). Dr. Tan scheduled another surgery and would try and close it then (July). I thought at the time, I would only have to be out for less than a month (unpaid), but I was wrong. He took 12 lymph nodes out, all were clear, but because my body did not heal well, it did not go as planned. I had 4 wounds and a drain tube. I had to stay seated with my leg up because without lymph nodes, my leg would be more likely to swell and we had to try and control it. I had to wear the medical grade panty hose (and let me say in the heat of summer, was not fun!!)
Throughout all of it, I got to spend time with Baby Law, which made every day worth getting up and trying to get stronger. August 31st, I was scheduled to go back to work! Finally, they would allow me to come back on light duty because I still had to walk with a walker and could not stand for long periods of time. I needed to go back to work, I had bills to pay, a baby to feed and a house note to take care of!!
As I pressed forward, my knee began to swell and I was having some issues, but I refused to go and complain. I just got back to work. I wrapped it up and continued. A hematoma started to form and the pain began to be unbearable. Finally my mom called and asked to see a picture of my leg because she was concerned. After seeing the photo, she demanded I go to the hospital. My sister came and got me from work and got some clothes ready and mom took me in.
The On-Duty Surgeon was very concerned and scheduled a Scan and surgery immediately. I was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a skin eating disease. Emergency surgery was done and I had 4 huge incisions and now 2 openings for tubes to drain. The next day, we did Wound Care, which was awful!! It was determined they had to go back in surgery to clear more of the area! Scheduled the next day, I went back in and came out with 2 more incisions (8 total), all open, all in pain.
After wound care for a couple of days and about 10 days after being admitted, I had my last surgery (#9). They took a skin graft from my left thigh to cover one of the wounds on my right shin and sewed the rest up! As time went on, wound care became easier but walking did not. My leg had gone through 8 surgeries since the beginning of the year and the last 3 made it very apparent that I could not push myself. My mom bathed me and anyone who came to visit me in the hospital had to help me do anything and everything. I felt useless; I could not even see my child because of my open wounds.
Finally, I was able to get out of the hospital with continued visits to Wound Care. I moved from hospital bed to my dad’s chair in the living room of their home, where I still had to be taken care of. I have made progress and very excited about it. I can walk to the restroom slowly with my walker and can do about 20-30 minute intervals, 3 or 4 times a day. My leg has to be immediately rested afterwards because the swelling becomes irrational and it starts hurting.
I have not been able to return to work and not quite sure when I will be able to. My doctor said he will not even consider releasing me to go back to work at least until sometime in December! What I would like to do is just go back to work and take care of business as usual, but I am unable. Many people have given donations and it has helped more than they can imagine. I do not like to ask for help and I hate owing people money, but the love and hope that these individuals have given me is more than I could ask for. I would like to say Thank you and God Bless!!
Here is her story!!
My name is Julia (some know me as Julie). In October 2014, I found out some surprising news, I was pregnant!! Mid-June, I would be a mommy! This wasn't going to be the end of the world, just a little crazier.
Because of the years that I was always about work….work, work, work, I had to get my body in the right direction to have a baby. That took many doctor’s appointments and tests and eventually I was put into the hospital to get my diabetes under control. During my visit, I noticed, what I thought was a scar, had grown and that was causing some concern. My mom said just to have it cut off and checked out, so I did.
In January 2015, my OBGYN decided he would do it because it would be easy enough and an office visit at that! By the time the appointment came around, the growth had grown and he was a little hesitant. I said go ahead (I had already paid…LOL). It ended up being a “12 stitch surgery type thing”, instead of an “in office biopsy thing”. Either way, my friend and I took photos and went on about our way, wrapped up and limping, back to work.
About a month later (February), my doctor called and said he needed to see me. I didn't understand because I already had an appointment set for a week later. Either way, I called my mom and she said she would go with me. At the time I did not understand, but after the doctor started to look weary, I understood, it wasn't good. I had been diagnosed with skin cancer. Melanoma to be exact, and apparently it was a little worse than the normal "find a new mole and have it removed" kind. Mine was deeper and thicker... aggressive, they called it.
My doctor made follow up appointments with the Mitchell Cancer Institute. In March, I met Dr. Tan, he got to know me and my family and wanted to do whatever possible, but during pregnancy, not much can be done. I had my second surgery (planned on an off day), where he cleared the margins. I call it my shark bite because that is what it looked like. After a couple days in the hospital, I went back to work to continue on.
In April, I moved to Semmes, Alabama to be closer to my family for help with the baby. I had another “procedure” to do on my centennial lymph nodes, to check the area out. Pregnant, open wounds that would not heal, and now moving, all while still working…things were getting crazy! My doctors were getting nervous because my body was weak and yet I still continued to push harder. New specialists were brought onto my case (due to being pregnant with diabetes and cancer didn’t help)! We decided that it would be best to take Baby Law early.
On May 11th, my High Risk OBGYN decided it was time to go to the hospital. My legs were overly swollen (from working and the surgeries causing stress) and my blood pressure was through the roof. On May 13th, 5 weeks early, Baby Law had to be taken by C-Section. He was beautiful, or handsome, might I say! Baby Law had to stay in the NICU for 18 days, to learn how to eat. That little stinker would just fall asleep and expect you to put it in his little tube. But after a while, he picked up the skill and began to eat by himself and could come home!! All in all, he saved me, because of him; we found the cancer and could move on!
While out on leave in June, my doctor said it was time to do the PET scan. After getting results, we needed to do another surgery on my centennial lymph nodes. We agreed and ended up 2 out of 3 of the lymph nodes that were removed from my groin had cancer in them, meaning it had spread. I was tired of this already but understood that I didn’t get to just walk away from it.
I went back to work for about 2 weeks (before I probably should have because, of course, the wound opened). Dr. Tan scheduled another surgery and would try and close it then (July). I thought at the time, I would only have to be out for less than a month (unpaid), but I was wrong. He took 12 lymph nodes out, all were clear, but because my body did not heal well, it did not go as planned. I had 4 wounds and a drain tube. I had to stay seated with my leg up because without lymph nodes, my leg would be more likely to swell and we had to try and control it. I had to wear the medical grade panty hose (and let me say in the heat of summer, was not fun!!)
Throughout all of it, I got to spend time with Baby Law, which made every day worth getting up and trying to get stronger. August 31st, I was scheduled to go back to work! Finally, they would allow me to come back on light duty because I still had to walk with a walker and could not stand for long periods of time. I needed to go back to work, I had bills to pay, a baby to feed and a house note to take care of!!
As I pressed forward, my knee began to swell and I was having some issues, but I refused to go and complain. I just got back to work. I wrapped it up and continued. A hematoma started to form and the pain began to be unbearable. Finally my mom called and asked to see a picture of my leg because she was concerned. After seeing the photo, she demanded I go to the hospital. My sister came and got me from work and got some clothes ready and mom took me in.
The On-Duty Surgeon was very concerned and scheduled a Scan and surgery immediately. I was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a skin eating disease. Emergency surgery was done and I had 4 huge incisions and now 2 openings for tubes to drain. The next day, we did Wound Care, which was awful!! It was determined they had to go back in surgery to clear more of the area! Scheduled the next day, I went back in and came out with 2 more incisions (8 total), all open, all in pain.
After wound care for a couple of days and about 10 days after being admitted, I had my last surgery (#9). They took a skin graft from my left thigh to cover one of the wounds on my right shin and sewed the rest up! As time went on, wound care became easier but walking did not. My leg had gone through 8 surgeries since the beginning of the year and the last 3 made it very apparent that I could not push myself. My mom bathed me and anyone who came to visit me in the hospital had to help me do anything and everything. I felt useless; I could not even see my child because of my open wounds.
Finally, I was able to get out of the hospital with continued visits to Wound Care. I moved from hospital bed to my dad’s chair in the living room of their home, where I still had to be taken care of. I have made progress and very excited about it. I can walk to the restroom slowly with my walker and can do about 20-30 minute intervals, 3 or 4 times a day. My leg has to be immediately rested afterwards because the swelling becomes irrational and it starts hurting.
I have not been able to return to work and not quite sure when I will be able to. My doctor said he will not even consider releasing me to go back to work at least until sometime in December! What I would like to do is just go back to work and take care of business as usual, but I am unable. Many people have given donations and it has helped more than they can imagine. I do not like to ask for help and I hate owing people money, but the love and hope that these individuals have given me is more than I could ask for. I would like to say Thank you and God Bless!!