Stand with Heather: A Warrior's Fight

Update: 6/14/24:

Day 2 Update:

Chemo is going really well I feel. My tumor is loosening up the skin around it, hopefully meaning it is shrinking some already.

Today I finished my first bag of chemo, they did a lumbar puncture to check my spinal fluid for cancer cells as well as give me a chemo treatment through that pleural space. I got to take a shower before they started the second bag.

I am having a lot of pain in my hips and lower back when I try to stand out of my bed or lay back flat after having the LP but they're taking care of me by ordering an x-ray and giving me dilaudid for the pain. My head is also in terrible pain. Hopefully the meds kick in soon

I am alive. I am strong. I am a fighter. I will survive this because I have no other choice - my two kids need their mom.

Thank you for all the calls, texts, DONATIONS. Gosh, the donations you all have been giving is SO APPRECIATED. Ive cried multiple times just looking at the totals thus far. You all have no idea how thankful and appreciative we are for you showing us this much love and support. We can never repay you. ❤️

6/10/24

This sweet momma and her family need your help. Heather is a former student of min from the South Callaway community. She is the sweetest of humans. She has a little girl and a new baby boy. She also recently was diagnosed with Stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. She has tumors in three locations and will be beginning chemotherapy very soon. Her most recent Facebook post absolutely tore at my heart and I want to share it with you:

6/10/2024

For future me, looking back:

With this chemo you'll more than likely become infertile. This sucks and I know you cry about it almost every night because you wanted more children BUT this will save your life. We just didn't have enough time to preserve your eggs. I know you want to adopt but that also doesn't look like it's in the cards for you. It's OKAY. Cry it out when you feel like it and know you have two beautiful babies on Earthside and two beautiful Angel babies. Your heart has a lot more love to give and you'll find a way to give it - you always do.

They will soon give you a lot of steroids which will mess blood sugars up DRASTICALLY. If we manage to come out of this without going into DKA, it'll be a miracle, but you are STRONG. You've almost died 3 times from DKA, you know what to look for, and if you have any questions - go to the hospital. You got this. Dr. Case is always right next to you.

For some (me) morphine doesn't help after a couple doses. You'll then have to switch to Oxy, a muscle relaxer, and ibuprofen. TAKE THEM AROUND THE CLOCK. Some days you may feel "okay" and think you can push through but don't. Take the medication. You'll have enough pain to deal with in the next 6 months...take the help while they can help.

Some people you thought would be there for you, aren't. Let them be. If they cant be there for you during this time then BE DONE.

Be thankful for the support you have. Once you beat this, take the kids back to Sitka. Move up north like you've always wanted. You've held yourself back in life a lot in fear of what certain people will think - stop. Do what you truly want in life.

Never give up.

She is a daughter. She is a wife. She is a momma. She is a warrior. But she also needs our help. This sweet family needs help financially during this difficult time. Any donation is appreciated.

thank you!