Rita Kaye Cancer Campaign
Donation protected
Rita Kaye is the matriarch of our family and EVERYONE'S NANA. This recent diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer comes as a huge shock to her family and everyone who knows her. So many people friends and family have asked what they can do to help... Here is her story.
In 2013, she had a blockage in her colon that led us to take her to the ER. That same day, she had emergency surgery to remove it. It was stage 1 colon cancer that was caught quickly. It was removed and she did not even require chemo or radiation and had no further complications. She bounced back with gusto and continued an active and busy life working full time 40 hours a week as an accountant and being everyone's NANA.
Now, 4 years later summer of 2017, she started having excruciating pain in her left side that came out of nowhere and did not subside regardless of what the doctor tried to manage the pain. Another visit to the ER and weight loss adding up to 40 lbs revealed a MASS located on the outer reigion of her left colon. A colonoscopy and biopsy confirmed that the mass was indeed cancer. She was scheduled for surgery September 27th to remove that mass. When the surgeon got in there, he discovered the cancer was worse than depicted on the imaging because it was wrapped around the muscles that go down her hips and buttocks and was embedded into her hip bone. According to him it was a bigger risk to remove any of the cancer because it is in advanced stages and in the bone. Removal would have caused serious internal bleeding, so he left it all in there. It is considered stage 4 colon cancer with secondary cancer in the bone. It is localized and not on any other organs at present time which is the silver lining. However, a resection of the colon with result of a permanent colostomy bag was necessary and took place during the surgery. This will prevent another blockage if it were to spread upward in the colon.
After meeting with her oncologist this morning, the next step is to have another pet scan this week to see if it has spread any more after the surgery. She gets her staples out tomorrow and a chemo port will be inserted later this week. After this happens, they will begin aggressive treatments of chemo and radiation together. This should be in place to begin within the next two weeks. Of course everyone handles treatment differently and we hope that she will be strong and not get sick, but the reality is, they anticipate her pain being hard to manage along the way and her excessive weight loss will not be in her favor as she undergoes treatment.
This is devastating news for our NANA and our family and she has been advised NOT to return to work at this time. (Which anyone who knows her will agree that this is a devestating and emotional change). This unfortunate circumstance has basically forced her into retirement with no closure, or notice that this is what was going to happen. She was spry and sassy as can be, still has a sharp mind and absolutely LOVES working....but her body is going in another direction.
Our prayer and our goal for having this account is to be able to raise enough money to help NANA with her weekly co-pays, increased medicines and medical expenses, car payment and a few months rent to keep her comfortable in her own existing apartment of familiarity while she undergoes treatment and fights for a chance of beating this crappy disease! We are believing God for enough funding to allow her 6 months of financial assistance for bills and expenses. Then we can reassess the situation and go from there.
We have an incredible support system and there are so many people who LOVE Rita and are asking how they can help! Whatever you can give will be truly appreciated. If you can't give, PLEASE PRAY! It is very difficult to be this transparent regarding such delicate health issues, but with Rita's permission, she has allowed us to share her story and wants her close friends and family to know what is going on.
This is going to be a tough battle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we serve a BIG GOD and we are believing for a miracle. We will post updates as we go through this journey together. Nana's favorite saying is "Life is about MAKING MEMORIES" and we have many more memories to make. We need your prayers and your support to get our Nana better!
Blessings,
The Kaye Family
In 2013, she had a blockage in her colon that led us to take her to the ER. That same day, she had emergency surgery to remove it. It was stage 1 colon cancer that was caught quickly. It was removed and she did not even require chemo or radiation and had no further complications. She bounced back with gusto and continued an active and busy life working full time 40 hours a week as an accountant and being everyone's NANA.
Now, 4 years later summer of 2017, she started having excruciating pain in her left side that came out of nowhere and did not subside regardless of what the doctor tried to manage the pain. Another visit to the ER and weight loss adding up to 40 lbs revealed a MASS located on the outer reigion of her left colon. A colonoscopy and biopsy confirmed that the mass was indeed cancer. She was scheduled for surgery September 27th to remove that mass. When the surgeon got in there, he discovered the cancer was worse than depicted on the imaging because it was wrapped around the muscles that go down her hips and buttocks and was embedded into her hip bone. According to him it was a bigger risk to remove any of the cancer because it is in advanced stages and in the bone. Removal would have caused serious internal bleeding, so he left it all in there. It is considered stage 4 colon cancer with secondary cancer in the bone. It is localized and not on any other organs at present time which is the silver lining. However, a resection of the colon with result of a permanent colostomy bag was necessary and took place during the surgery. This will prevent another blockage if it were to spread upward in the colon.
After meeting with her oncologist this morning, the next step is to have another pet scan this week to see if it has spread any more after the surgery. She gets her staples out tomorrow and a chemo port will be inserted later this week. After this happens, they will begin aggressive treatments of chemo and radiation together. This should be in place to begin within the next two weeks. Of course everyone handles treatment differently and we hope that she will be strong and not get sick, but the reality is, they anticipate her pain being hard to manage along the way and her excessive weight loss will not be in her favor as she undergoes treatment.
This is devastating news for our NANA and our family and she has been advised NOT to return to work at this time. (Which anyone who knows her will agree that this is a devestating and emotional change). This unfortunate circumstance has basically forced her into retirement with no closure, or notice that this is what was going to happen. She was spry and sassy as can be, still has a sharp mind and absolutely LOVES working....but her body is going in another direction.
Our prayer and our goal for having this account is to be able to raise enough money to help NANA with her weekly co-pays, increased medicines and medical expenses, car payment and a few months rent to keep her comfortable in her own existing apartment of familiarity while she undergoes treatment and fights for a chance of beating this crappy disease! We are believing God for enough funding to allow her 6 months of financial assistance for bills and expenses. Then we can reassess the situation and go from there.
We have an incredible support system and there are so many people who LOVE Rita and are asking how they can help! Whatever you can give will be truly appreciated. If you can't give, PLEASE PRAY! It is very difficult to be this transparent regarding such delicate health issues, but with Rita's permission, she has allowed us to share her story and wants her close friends and family to know what is going on.
This is going to be a tough battle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we serve a BIG GOD and we are believing for a miracle. We will post updates as we go through this journey together. Nana's favorite saying is "Life is about MAKING MEMORIES" and we have many more memories to make. We need your prayers and your support to get our Nana better!
Blessings,
The Kaye Family
Organizer
Debbie DeFord Kaye
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV
