Stand by Erika
Donation protected
When you hear someone has Thyroid Cancer, you probably think they were lucky to be diagnosed with a cancer that is treated so easily. That was our first thought, too, when my best friend Erika noticed a small lump on her neck this past summer. Unfortunately, her diagnosis turned out to be much more serious.
Erika is a single mom to her 16 year old daughter, and has to stay healthy to be able to be there for her, so she decided to have the lump looked at right away. The biopsy revealed a cancerous growth. So a surgery to remove the thyroid, surrounding muscles, and numerous lymph nodes was scheduled immediately.
When the results came back after surgery, Erika was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of thyroid cancer. Although it hasn't spread to distant areas, it is stage IV. There aren't many doctors in the country who can treat the cancer she has, so she was sent to see a specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Due to the nature of her cancer, a very aggressive treatment program was drafted to start immediately.
Her treatment consists of weekly chemo therapy, and external beam radiation 5 days a week (33 radiation treatments). She is now a few weeks into the 7 week regime, and the effects of the chemo and radiation are starting to take their toll. She was also hospitalized for almost 2 weeks, which paused treatments, but is now back on receiving radiation and chemo. The radiation is especially grueling; she has constant pain when swallowing, and talking is becoming quite an effort. While she was hospitalized, she had to receive a stomach feeding tube due to not being able to eat or drink any more. She now has to feed herself special nutrition drinks through the tube, which is no fun.
Erika is too fatigued from the treatments, and had to stop working recently. Her paid time off from work has run out due to doctor's appointments, surgeries and hospital stays. She needs help covering her living expenses and medical bills while out sick on unpaid leave.
Erika is one of the best moms I know. She's happy, good hearted, and compassionate. We are asking for help to make sure she can concentrate on treatments and healing, and not constantly worry if she will lose her home due to the cancer.
We would appreciate any amount you could donate to help Erika. We will post updates as her treatments continue. Thank you!
Erika is a single mom to her 16 year old daughter, and has to stay healthy to be able to be there for her, so she decided to have the lump looked at right away. The biopsy revealed a cancerous growth. So a surgery to remove the thyroid, surrounding muscles, and numerous lymph nodes was scheduled immediately.
When the results came back after surgery, Erika was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of thyroid cancer. Although it hasn't spread to distant areas, it is stage IV. There aren't many doctors in the country who can treat the cancer she has, so she was sent to see a specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Due to the nature of her cancer, a very aggressive treatment program was drafted to start immediately.
Her treatment consists of weekly chemo therapy, and external beam radiation 5 days a week (33 radiation treatments). She is now a few weeks into the 7 week regime, and the effects of the chemo and radiation are starting to take their toll. She was also hospitalized for almost 2 weeks, which paused treatments, but is now back on receiving radiation and chemo. The radiation is especially grueling; she has constant pain when swallowing, and talking is becoming quite an effort. While she was hospitalized, she had to receive a stomach feeding tube due to not being able to eat or drink any more. She now has to feed herself special nutrition drinks through the tube, which is no fun.
Erika is too fatigued from the treatments, and had to stop working recently. Her paid time off from work has run out due to doctor's appointments, surgeries and hospital stays. She needs help covering her living expenses and medical bills while out sick on unpaid leave.
Erika is one of the best moms I know. She's happy, good hearted, and compassionate. We are asking for help to make sure she can concentrate on treatments and healing, and not constantly worry if she will lose her home due to the cancer.
We would appreciate any amount you could donate to help Erika. We will post updates as her treatments continue. Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Sisko Dye
Organizer
Hollywood, FL
Erika Kreuz
Beneficiary
