Hi! My name is Alice and about a year ago during a trip to the emergency room, an abnormal, relatively large cyst was found on my pancreas. Over the year since, I've gotten diagnostic procedures and a 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic which have all come to the conclusion that the pancreatic cyst is pre-cancerous. These types of cysts aren't typically found in folks until they're 50-60+ years old. Because of my age and how much time it has to potentially develop into full scale pancreatic cancer, my medical team is recommending that I have surgery to remove half of my pancreas, with the cyst. This surgery, unfortunately, has a 50/50 chance of making me a type 3c diabetic with no real way of knowing before I come out of surgery. This means that I will also be seeking treatment for binge eating disorder which I have put off for so long to set me up for better success in potentially living with diabetes.

In the last year, I've already spent nearly $2,500 between originally finding the cyst and getting a 2nd opinion on medical bills and travel to Rochester, MN. I now will have to go back to Mayo Clinic in July for a pre-surgery diagnostic procedure and to meet with my surgical team. Currently, I am hoping to raise as close to $5,500 as I can to help cover some of what I have already spent but also what I expect to spend on medical bills and travel during this next trip in July.

After the trip in July, I will have a better sense for when my surgery will be scheduled and hope to host a fundraising event or two of some sort to cover some of the costs of a 4-5 day hospital stay, a hotel for my support system, and related travel.

Any amount you are able to send my way is greatly appreciated and will go directly towards the costs of medical bills and related travel to and from Mayo Clinic. If you're unable to give but have read about my story and/or are willing to share with folks you know, I also deeply appreciate your time and energy.

Thank you all so much for your support!