No Place Like Home
Donation protected
It’s July 2013 and I’m 18 weeks pregnant. I had noticed that my left breast was hot, red, dimply and much bigger than my right breast, I’m not sure how long I ignored it for, but eventually I decided to get it checked. After antibiotics and a visit to A&E, flashing my boobs to countless doctors, blood tests, fainting, ultrasound scan and biopsies.The next morning I was told to go home and expect a phone call the following week.
The next 6 days were the longest of my life. I don’t know why but I just knew it was cancer. A gut feeling, instinct. The hospital had rung and I had an appointment the following day. That was it then. It was cancer.
I had my appointment. I met my surgeon, breast care nurse and my oncologist. I had a core biopsy. I started chemotherapy 24 weeks pregnant. The chemo didn't work. They induced me at 36 weeks and Zoe was born in just 14 minutes! 3 days later I started a hormone therapy - Herceptin. 3 weeks later I started a new chemo. I had various scans while all this was going on and again the chemo was not working. My surgery was brought forward. I had decided for a bi lateral mastectomy. January 2014 I had my surgery. I underwent 15 rounds of radiotherapy and in October 2014 I had my last treatment and was given the much sought after status of NED No Evidence of Disease! I couldn’t believe it!
In December 2014 I had an appointment in a specialist clinic because of side effects from my radiotherapy. I was sent home immediately with an emergency appointment with my oncologist the next day.
A week later on Christmas eve 2014 we were told the cancer had come back and I was no longer curable. My oncologists words “ This is a life threatening situation” I will never ever forget those words. EVER. To say I was devastated is an understatement. Once again my world came crashing down and this time there would be no “end” to look forward to. The only end I have is when the cancer will finally take my life. I was put on a different chemo combined with a targeted therapy. Finally it worked! I had 2 years of being“Stable” .This is a much coveted position to be in when you have incurable cancer. Our girls are 4,7 and 10 years old and they will never know mummy before cancer. All my treatments past and present have had such an effect on me. Physically and emotionally. My energy levels are so fragile.
Its now December 2017 and I've been living with cancer for over 4 years. Sadly I'm no longer stable. March 2017 I have had further spread, more surgery and radiotherapy. August 2017 the cancer is now in my liver. I'm running out of treatment options.
We rent the house we live in. We have been given the opportunity to buy it. We are £13,000 short of being able to get the mortgage in my husband's name. We have lived in our home for 6 and a half years. It is the only home our 3 girls have ever known or remember. We desperately want to buy this home so that we can continue to make memories, knowing that when the time comes for me to go, my husband and 3 beautiful girls will always have our home to feel safe and secure and remember the home that "mummy" made for them. To know that this will be one less thing to worry about for my family would be a huge relief to me and I will be able to move on peacefully knowing our home belongs to them. Any help we receive will be so greatly appreciated. Help us buy our home. Thank you xxx
The next 6 days were the longest of my life. I don’t know why but I just knew it was cancer. A gut feeling, instinct. The hospital had rung and I had an appointment the following day. That was it then. It was cancer.
I had my appointment. I met my surgeon, breast care nurse and my oncologist. I had a core biopsy. I started chemotherapy 24 weeks pregnant. The chemo didn't work. They induced me at 36 weeks and Zoe was born in just 14 minutes! 3 days later I started a hormone therapy - Herceptin. 3 weeks later I started a new chemo. I had various scans while all this was going on and again the chemo was not working. My surgery was brought forward. I had decided for a bi lateral mastectomy. January 2014 I had my surgery. I underwent 15 rounds of radiotherapy and in October 2014 I had my last treatment and was given the much sought after status of NED No Evidence of Disease! I couldn’t believe it!
In December 2014 I had an appointment in a specialist clinic because of side effects from my radiotherapy. I was sent home immediately with an emergency appointment with my oncologist the next day.
A week later on Christmas eve 2014 we were told the cancer had come back and I was no longer curable. My oncologists words “ This is a life threatening situation” I will never ever forget those words. EVER. To say I was devastated is an understatement. Once again my world came crashing down and this time there would be no “end” to look forward to. The only end I have is when the cancer will finally take my life. I was put on a different chemo combined with a targeted therapy. Finally it worked! I had 2 years of being“Stable” .This is a much coveted position to be in when you have incurable cancer. Our girls are 4,7 and 10 years old and they will never know mummy before cancer. All my treatments past and present have had such an effect on me. Physically and emotionally. My energy levels are so fragile.
Its now December 2017 and I've been living with cancer for over 4 years. Sadly I'm no longer stable. March 2017 I have had further spread, more surgery and radiotherapy. August 2017 the cancer is now in my liver. I'm running out of treatment options.
We rent the house we live in. We have been given the opportunity to buy it. We are £13,000 short of being able to get the mortgage in my husband's name. We have lived in our home for 6 and a half years. It is the only home our 3 girls have ever known or remember. We desperately want to buy this home so that we can continue to make memories, knowing that when the time comes for me to go, my husband and 3 beautiful girls will always have our home to feel safe and secure and remember the home that "mummy" made for them. To know that this will be one less thing to worry about for my family would be a huge relief to me and I will be able to move on peacefully knowing our home belongs to them. Any help we receive will be so greatly appreciated. Help us buy our home. Thank you xxx
Organizer
Elisa-marie Henley
Organizer
