Help Andrea Kick Cancer
Donation protected
It all started early September 7th, 2020. It was the middle of the night, and I was awaken by hearing a loud thud. I opened my bedroom door to see my Mom on the floor, in my Brother, Kaiden's arms. She was after fainting for the fourth time in about 5 minutes. After some convincing, we brought Mom to the hospital. They took her in immediately and began running tests. Concussion? Nope. Blood levels? Oddly low. Her hemoglobin was 85, and a normal range is 120-140. Something was wrong. After about 7 hours in the Emergancy Room, she was told she was being admitted.
After being admitted, tests continued. This hospitalization lasted about a week, and she was sent home with no answers. Maybe it was a blood pressure issue that caused her to faint, or a freak incident. After being placed on a waitlist for a CT Scan, the wait started.
Just a few weeks after, Mom started a new job in her field. She had just finished a program in August, and was excited to begin work. Each day things got increasingly more difficult. Exhaustion was like noneother. From leaving the car to entering work, it was a struggle. From the main doors to the elevator, was a struggle. She had to hold onto the railing to brace herself, as she was worried she would collapse again. She felt weak, like her body was unable to hold its own weight. Still, she continued to work. She enjoyed her job, and was trying to establish her new career. Hopefully, one with medical insurance.
November rolled around, and the CT occurred. It was a friday afternoon, and the following Monday she recieved a call to immediately come to the Health Science Center to discuss the results. The doctor began talking of growths, much to Mom's confusion. The word Lymphoma was said. 'Lymphoma? What do you mean?' Mom thought. The doctor expressed that the CT showed englarged lymphnodes, and although more tests had to be ran... Lymphoma was the only answer, the only possible diagnosis. Mom arrived home that day, upset. She sat both myself and my brother down, and explained how there were growths. 'Wait. growths. Do you have cancer?' I asked, and Mom cried. This is the day that our lives changed.
Following this, our family doctor determined it was best for Mom to be taken off work. He was surprised she was able to function as she was, with such low hemoglobin. He was surprised she was able to stand, let alone work a full time job while being a single Mom. Given that COVID-19 is a factor in all our lives currently, it was too dangerous given her compromised immune system for her to work... in any capacity.
Since that day in November, there have been an additional 2 hospitalizations. In December, her hemoglobin dropped to 52 which is dangerously low resulting in another hospitalization as she required multiple blood transfusions. She made it home just a few days before Christmas. A biopsy occured, and the diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma Stage 4. Luckily, Hodgkins is cureable. Following the diagnosis, another hospitalization occured just a few days after New Years, this time to start treatment.
It's now Mid-March, and Mom is one third of the way through her Chemotherapy treatments. This means it has also been several months without work, which has quite the financial impact as a single parent.
Hopefully, Chemotherapy will end in late May. After that, the focus on fully becoming herself again starts. The Mom I know, the one without Cancer. The Mom who always puts herself out to help others, and has been involved in so many fundraisers over the years. Many of which, have been cancer related.
We are unsure when she'll be able to return to work, but it will not be for at least the next 6+ months. Because of this, we are seeking help.
Please share, even if you are unable to donate. Cancer affects each person in one way or another. If you are unable to donate, well-wishes are always appreciated.
After being admitted, tests continued. This hospitalization lasted about a week, and she was sent home with no answers. Maybe it was a blood pressure issue that caused her to faint, or a freak incident. After being placed on a waitlist for a CT Scan, the wait started.
Just a few weeks after, Mom started a new job in her field. She had just finished a program in August, and was excited to begin work. Each day things got increasingly more difficult. Exhaustion was like noneother. From leaving the car to entering work, it was a struggle. From the main doors to the elevator, was a struggle. She had to hold onto the railing to brace herself, as she was worried she would collapse again. She felt weak, like her body was unable to hold its own weight. Still, she continued to work. She enjoyed her job, and was trying to establish her new career. Hopefully, one with medical insurance.
November rolled around, and the CT occurred. It was a friday afternoon, and the following Monday she recieved a call to immediately come to the Health Science Center to discuss the results. The doctor began talking of growths, much to Mom's confusion. The word Lymphoma was said. 'Lymphoma? What do you mean?' Mom thought. The doctor expressed that the CT showed englarged lymphnodes, and although more tests had to be ran... Lymphoma was the only answer, the only possible diagnosis. Mom arrived home that day, upset. She sat both myself and my brother down, and explained how there were growths. 'Wait. growths. Do you have cancer?' I asked, and Mom cried. This is the day that our lives changed.
Following this, our family doctor determined it was best for Mom to be taken off work. He was surprised she was able to function as she was, with such low hemoglobin. He was surprised she was able to stand, let alone work a full time job while being a single Mom. Given that COVID-19 is a factor in all our lives currently, it was too dangerous given her compromised immune system for her to work... in any capacity.
Since that day in November, there have been an additional 2 hospitalizations. In December, her hemoglobin dropped to 52 which is dangerously low resulting in another hospitalization as she required multiple blood transfusions. She made it home just a few days before Christmas. A biopsy occured, and the diagnosis of Hodgkins Lymphoma Stage 4. Luckily, Hodgkins is cureable. Following the diagnosis, another hospitalization occured just a few days after New Years, this time to start treatment.
It's now Mid-March, and Mom is one third of the way through her Chemotherapy treatments. This means it has also been several months without work, which has quite the financial impact as a single parent.
Hopefully, Chemotherapy will end in late May. After that, the focus on fully becoming herself again starts. The Mom I know, the one without Cancer. The Mom who always puts herself out to help others, and has been involved in so many fundraisers over the years. Many of which, have been cancer related.
We are unsure when she'll be able to return to work, but it will not be for at least the next 6+ months. Because of this, we are seeking help.
Please share, even if you are unable to donate. Cancer affects each person in one way or another. If you are unable to donate, well-wishes are always appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Darcie Edwards
Organizer
St. John's, NL
Andrea Edwards
Beneficiary