Team Summer

As some of you may know, my Aunt Summer was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer in June 2019. Since being diagnosed, like many others, Summer has gone through multiple challenges fighting this terrible disease. From June to September of 2019, Summer received chemo and radiation, including 5 internal radiation surgeries, but then was told by doctors they did not feel like she needed to keep doing treatment. After 13 surgeries, doctors admitted that they scrapped too much scar tissue out causing a fistula, which caused Summer the need of a colostomy bag. At the same time, she was given a ureter stent from blockage of her right kidney from the internal radiation. 3 months later, when Summer went to get her stent replaced, she was told she needed a stent for her left kidney. This left Summer with a total of 15 surgeries in a 7-month span. In January of 2020, Summer was cleared of cancer. Still being in severe pain and fighting with doctors about a knot of her groin area and her leg being swollen, they ruled out the possibly of a blood clot. February comes around and Doctors finally order a CT scan which confirmed Summers thoughts on there being a blood clot in her leg. After a pet scan and biopsy, they told Summer she had lymph nodes in 2 places on her groin, which caused the blood clot in her leg, and 2 spots on her lungs. Unfortunately, doctors are unable to do surgery because of the placements of the lymph nodes.

Although this was only the beginning of this dreadful chapter, Summer has been in and out of the hospital all year. She has continued to have numerous surgeries. Stents were removed from her kidneys from blood infections, being left with tubes in her kidneys. She was not able to continue chemo because she is allergic, and the weaker chemo ended up not working. Up until this month, she has had Immunotherapy, which made her worse.As of last week, Summer was informed the cancer has spread to more places and doctors say that treatment will no longer be of help, and from now on they can only keep her comfortable.

When Summer started treatment last year, she was unable to get back and forth to treatment by herself, so she moved in with her mom. This past year has been difficult for everyone dealing with Covid 19, but especially hard for Summer and our family.Between my grandma and my mom, they have spent numerous hours and thousands of dollars in travel and medication. Being unable to provide round the clock hospice care, my grandmother will have to quit her job. She will try for unemployment, but as most of us know, during these times it will take months to receive anything. Given this job is the only source of income in the home, we ask any and everyone for your help. Whether you can spare a few dollars or even just send good vibes, prayers, words of comfort, or just a quick uplifting message would be greatly appreciated. We can’t thank you all enough for continuing to keep Summer in your thoughts and prayers, we are truly blessed to have such a loving and supportive community here for Summer.