Kick Cancer with Chris
Donation protected
Hi, this is Chris' three children Brandy, Brittany, and Mitchell- thank you for taking the time to visit our page. Our strong, beautiful, loving mom is battling stage 4 urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer) and we're asking you to help us fight.
On Monday, July 18th, 2022, mom quit her job as her metastatic disease and treatments have made her too weak to continue working. If you know our mom, you know today was hard. She's worked her whole life and even against our wishes for the last 6 months, has continued to do so while receiving chemotherapy, a trial drug treatment, many hospitalizations, and fractured bones. Strong was an understatement...
As she navigates applying for disability and continuing to fight her disease, we ask for your continued help in the form of love, prayer, support, and financial assistance.
She is currently a patient at the James Cancer Center at Ohio State University with an incredible, caring doctor, Dr. Mortazavi. Most recently, we discovered her trial drug was not working as it had been and the cancer has spread. She is currently starting a new treatment with hope that her body will respond to this combination of drugs. As a family, we are also exploring options of seeking treatment at MD Anderson in Texas for an additional set of eyes on her extremely difficult case.
Thank you, as many of you have been on this journey with us this past, difficult year. It's through your love and support that we're still standing. We kindly ask that you keep praying, keep visiting, and support financially as she still has a very long, hard road ahead.
As you donate, we'd love if you could leave a word or phrase that best describes our mom from your view. Thank you, from the depths of our hearts. -Brandy, Brittany, & Mitchell.
Mom's latest Facebook Bible Verse: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." 31:6.
If you'd like to learn more about her diagnosis and journey, continue on:
- In May 2021, Chris saw her general practioner with low back pain, rib pain- felt like kidney stones (she had stones before). He gave her medicine, Flomax, and she had relief that evening as she waited on an ultrasound appointment.
- She received an ultrasound and asked her radiologist if she saw anything, the radiologist obviously couldn't share information but did say she could see why she was in so much pain because her kidney looks swollen and blocked.
- Following the ultrasound, they called and told her they didn't see anything and she did have relief after the Flomax.
- Fast forward to August 2021, Chris flew to Houston, TX to visit her daughter, Brittany, as she had just given birth to her 4th grandchild.
- She was experiencing flank pain during the visit, decreased appetite, and feeling pretty miserable. Brittany took her to ER/Urgent care (with a newborn in tow, during covid surge of packed waiting rooms), and they waited hours in the parking lot as Chris became visibly ill. Eventually, Chris was admitted to the ER where they performed an MRI scan and immediately told her they see a mass on her kidney and kidney blockage. They transferred her to a hospital where a bed was available.
- After days in the hospital and meeting with urologists, they explained more of her mass and how it had been there back in May when she first had pain and likely for the past year. She had bilateral ureteral stent placement and was encouraged to go home and follow-up at Ohio State.
- In October 2021, after many tests/trips to Columbus and back, we learned of her diagnosis, urothelial carcinoma- metastatic poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma. The findings presented multiple bone lesions, and she received radiation right away.
- December 2021, she was started on palliative PCG Chemotherapy with the last cycle in March 2022. She was admitted to the hospital twice during this time. Restaging scans showed metastatic UC with 100% plasmacytoid features.
- April 2022, she started a clinical phase 2 trial. The disease was stable.
- May 2022, she was admitted to the hospital with high calcium levels and liver enzymes.
- June 2022, she was admitted to the hospital for worsening hip pain and excrutiating shoulder pain. Findings showed a fractured right femur, a fractured left hip bone and a fractured 6th rib. New liver lesions, enhanced existing lesions, and a new right adrenal mass was also noted. She was discharged home with stronger pain medicine and the current plan to start a new treatment.
Co-organizers (4)
Brandy Bobek
Organizer
Chillicothe, OH
Brittany Benedict
Co-organizer
Marcus Benedict
Co-organizer
Nedra Blevins
Co-organizer