Hello everyone,

My name is Iliana. I turned 39 on January 1st, and this year began in a way I never could have imagined.

Just before Thanksgiving, I went to the ER because my body was swelling and my weight had suddenly gone up in a very short amount of time. My first fear wasn’t cancer — it was my organs.

In 2021/2022, I nearly lost my life to COVID. I was placed in a coma, on oxygen support, and my organs were affected. I eventually recovered, but that experience never leaves you. So when the swelling started, my mind immediately went back there. I was terrified my kidneys or liver were failing again.

The doctors ran tests and, thankfully, ruled that out. But something else didn’t make sense. I had gained a significant amount of weight in about a month, and I constantly felt full even after eating very little. Because of that, they ordered a CT scan.

That scan changed everything.

Doctors discovered an 18 cm mass in my abdomen, originating from my ovaries. Cancer markers were present. I was quickly transferred to a hospital about 40 miles from home for more extensive testing and treatment.

There, I underwent intense evaluations and procedures to relieve the severe fluid buildup in my body. They removed liters of fluid and sent it for testing. During this time, I was hospitalized, far from home, and emotionally overwhelmed — but my family traveled almost daily to see me, and my fiancé did everything he could, even after working night shifts. I truly don’t have words for what their love carried me through.

On December 2nd, I went into surgery. What was planned as exploratory became a full removal. After eight hours, I woke up to learn the surgery had gone well, with no complications, and that more fluid had been removed. Recovery was slow and careful, but I was determined. After nearly two weeks in the hospital, I was finally able to come home.

At home, I needed hands-on help. The first week was mostly sleeping, pain management, and learning how to move again. Since then, I’ve started the next phase of this journey: treatment.

On January 22nd, I received my first chemotherapy infusion. Unfortunately, I had a reaction to the drug combination and had to be monitored and stopped mid-treatment. The following day, I underwent a mediport procedure so that future treatments can be safer and more manageable.

Now, I am facing months of treatment and recovery ahead.

Throughout all of this, my fiancé has taken leave from work to care for me. Between hospitalizations, surgeries, appointments, and the physical toll this has taken, I haven’t been able to work — and his time away from work has left us struggling to cover basic living expenses.

We are doing everything we can, but right now we are not able to stay afloat on our own.

This fundraiser is to help us with essential bills, living costs, and the financial strain that comes with ongoing cancer treatment. Any amount truly helps. Sharing this also means more than you know.

If you are able to donate, thank you.

If you are able to share, thank you.

And if you’ve read this far, thank you for holding space for my story.

With love and gratitude,

Iliana

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Update 1!

Hey all, I got a bit of an update on whats going on.

Today marks the chapter 1 completion of a long road. Three sessions equals 1 round complete and that is what today was. The third of the first round of chemo.

This is not to say that if my body hadn't reacted as it did on the first attempt, i might be close to a third one. Though it is what it is I'm just glad my body didn't reject this type of chemo or I would really not have many choices left.

So along with the success comes a little back step or at least a speed bump. I had been having a sharp pain in my right shoulder, just above the shoulder blade. That pain got sharper as the month went on and turned into nerve pain along with it. So today I find that it might be from shingles, which is kinda odd to get but not unlikely due to the stress of the matter my body is going through.

So got me some meds for that, took one and already I can tell its helping since it doesn't hurt. Extremely thankful to all the staff and doctors who are giving me care to get me through this. As well as my family for there help and support when I'm not strong enough to do things on my own. I may feel like a burden sometimes but they remind me that they will be there regardless because its what family does.

Which they are right, family does help family and it doesn't take just blood to be it. Love all my friends and family who give me support. You are my world and my family of many.

Update 2

Chemo update: 1/3 of the way through the fight.

Today I shaved my head as the hair loss from treatment started. It’s not an easy step, but it’s part of the journey.

My dad shaved his head with me in solidarity, which meant the world. Having family and friends beside me makes this battle a little less heavy.

I’m sharing my story to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and to keep fighting with everything I’ve got.

Thank you for being part of my support system. ❤️