Skylar Needs Your Help: Cancer Treatment Fund

Skylar's Story,

On Sunday, May 25th, Skylar's life was changed forever. My husband Randy took Skylar to Mary Washington Hospital as he was experiencing severe pain that had gotten progressively worse since Saturday. After several tests and an ultrasound within an hour and a half, they diagnosed him with testicular cancer. As you can imagine, this came as a complete shock to all of us.

The doctor explained how there are three different types of testicular cancer, and he was confident that he would be able to remove the 1” tumor with no problem and that the chances of it being the aggressive type were low. In fact, he was almost sure it was just the typical type and that the removal of the testicle would take care of it. He did advise that there was a possibility he would need a round of chemo.

This is where all the craziness begins. Within the next few days, he was scheduled for pre-op registration and surgery, and we learned that his insurance, which was purchased through a broker, basically covers nothing that pertains to the diagnosis, treatment, or surgery for cancer. His surgery took place on 6/2 at Stafford Hospital. We couldn’t have asked for a better doctor and care team. All went well with the surgery, and Skylar was released the same day to go home and begin healing.

Over the next three weeks, Victoria, Skylar's partner, picked up extra shifts at work to help them get through the next six weeks since Skylar wasn’t able to return to work, and his short-term disability only paid at 60%.

Skylar’s follow-up appointment on 6/25 discussed the possibility of needing chemotherapy, but he would have to wait for the pathology report and prepare for an appointment with oncology. Once the pathology report came back, there were concerns that the cancer had invaded his lymph nodes, so it was sent off to the Mayo Clinic for further testing, and he was sent for a CT scan. Thankfully, the scan showed no invasion and that it hadn’t spread, but he needed to follow up with an oncologist to go over results and a possible treatment plan. He was released to return to work on 7/6.

That brings us to today, 7/15. Today’s appointment with the oncologist gave Skylar three options:

1st option: Monitor him every two months with labs and scans, but it wouldn’t rule out the possibility that he could still need chemotherapy. At this point, it could have spread, and he would need three cycles, so 21 days. This is because the scans that are done can’t pick up all microscopic cancer cells.

2nd option: Surgery to remove all lymph nodes from his back, which could cause issues later.

3rd option: Chemo for five days straight, then Monday, then the following Monday for a total of seven chemos in 21 days. Again, he will need to be out of work for an unknown amount of time.

We have filled out paperwork and are all set to pay for his initial visit at the Virginia Cancer Specialist, which is scheduled for 7/21. The appointment is to set up his treatment plan and meet with the nurse coordinator and financial adviser.

Skylar and Victoria have three beautiful children that need both of their parents, so this part of the process is a must. Please say a prayer and donate if you are able; no donation is too small.