Samantha Walker - Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma

First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to be here today. My name is Kent Foster, one of two older brothers of Samantha Walker. This year has brought some tough challenges for my family as my younger sister, 23, Samantha Walker has been recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. What once started as a cough later lead to the discovery of cancer.

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops and spreads through the lymph nodes that are located throughout the body. In Samantha's case, cancer had spread throughout the blood. Within the lymph system are vessels that carry a fluid called lymph which contains white blood cells. These white blood cells, or lymphocytes, are used to fight off infections. The lymph system itself connects all lymph nodes within the body which are usually located in the armpit, neck, thymus, parts of the tonsils, groin with the spleen, small intestine, and stomach. Once cancer begins in a part of the lymph system, it spreads most times before it is detected within the blood as it had done for Samantha.

Samantha then was scheduled for a PET scan to then discover her condition had progressed to Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Examining the PET scan resulted in the findings of multiple clusters within the left supraclavicular neck and strongly hypermetabolic lymph nodes beginning lateral to the left thyroid lobe and extending down into the upper and lower paratracheal mediastinum bilaterally. Meaning the condition had spread from the neck to the area located between the lungs. Masses were also found in the medial right lung apex. At this time, we had found the culprit of the cough. The mass was pressuring the lung resulting in the long cough Samantha had been experiencing.

At this time the news was devastating. We never would've thought something small as a cough would lead to such news as we had received. Personally, as an older brother, I feel like it's always been my duty to lead and protect my siblings. To hear such news and know there was nothing we could do to make it all go away left us feeling so vulnerable and powerless. But in this family, we do not give up so easily. Since the diagnosis, Samantha has been in good spirits. She continues to live, laugh, and love as she would always do. We will be holding fundraisers, and selling wristbands, and T-shirts to help with the contribution of any future medical expenses, traveling costs, personal items, or medications that be needed along the way as we continue our fight against cancer. We are not asking for any certain dollar amount or goal to be met as every contribution helps.

My plan here is to raise awareness of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, spread the word of my sister's story, and supply updates on Samantha's condition, with her approval, as we continue to reach our path of defeating cancer and begin the road to recovery. At this time Samantha is scheduled to begin chemotherapy beginning April 19th, 2023. The doctor will then rescan to see how well the cancer is reacting to the chemotherapy and continue to do so for a minimum of 6 months.

Going forward, I want to be completely transparent if there is anything that someone would like to contribute whether it be a letter, email, or words of encouragement you can contact me using the contact organizer button on the gofundme page and I will be able to forward anything to Samantha personally.

Updates:

April 19th

Samantha prepared for her first chemo treatment. Although the idea of chemo can be intimidating, as an family the first treatment was conquered. The cancer treatment center she attended in Union, SC did a really good job as they allowed the family to accompany her during her first treatment. The week following was tiresome for Samantha but we were well prepared making Samantha's room comfortable as she would be resting in the coming months as we continue chemotherapy. As she was informed she would lose her hair as chemo continued we as a family decided to take the step with her and decided we would be rid of any hair we had to let Samantha know she's never alone and in this family, we fight together.

I want to take the time to personally thank absolutely everyone that has help contribute to the cause of Samantha's journey. Whether it being giving the time of day to conversate with the family giving words of encouragement, donations made outside the gofundme, donations made here on this gofundme page, or just taking the time to reach out and express your love for Samantha as we journey through this tough time. Personally there are not enough words to express how it has made my family feel to see so many people come together and be able to supply so much support. We as humans tend to get caught up living a routine of working, home, and completing daily tasks. From me to everyone that sees this, take the time to tell your family you love them, hug them, and take the time to slow life down to enjoy the smaller things. I love you all and not a single person will ever be forgotten.