Hi it’s me Monique. Most of you know the struggles we’ve had since August 2021. My ovarian cancer diagnosis changed to colon cancer which in turn changed to appendix cancer. Appendix cancer is extremely rare, with only one or 2 people out of every million being diagnosed each year.

Yesterday, June 13, 2022 was one of the worst, most heartbreaking days of my life. I went to Albany Medical Hospital planning on a massive surgery with a radical hysterectomy, cytoreduction, and HIPEC. The surgeon had actually used the word “curative” at my appt a few weeks prior. I cried. Happy happy tears. I was fully expecting to wake up from anesthesia yesterday with a smile on the surgeons face saying “we got it all”. But that’s not what happened. She opened me up and saw the cancer was too close to vital organs to remove. All she did was a biopsy. This at least, was my understanding. Why do they try to talk to you when you’re still trying to clear the anesthesia from your brain???

So now what. What do I do? What do WE do? A huge part of me wants to just give up, live my life, enjoy whatever time I have left. But I can’t leave Steve. I can’t and WONT leave my 14 year old daughter Olivia. I will not leave my mom to bury her baby. So now the search for a doctor who will cure me begins. I’m told there are appendix cancer experts all over the country. I put in appointment requests at MSK in NYC and MD Anderson in Houston. I have more calls planned tomorrow.

But, traveling is expensive. I greatly appreciate all the help I’ve received so far, and I hate to hold out my hat again but I need to do it. Disability only pays so much and Steve isn’t back to work yet. He’s been my chauffeur, my nurse, and my rock. I need him here with me as long as I can have him.

Any donated funds will be used for travel and lodging wherever we end up going for treatment. My hope is to be able to utilize video appointments but Drs won’t do that at the first consultation. They have to meet you in person, which I totally understand. I will continue to keep this page updated and every penny will help us and take soooo much stress off me. As you all know, I am quite the worrywart. Donations will help me to not have to worry about money for travel, and focus on healing and kicking this cancers ass ❤️❤️❤️