Support Darina's Fight Against Stage 4 Cancer

In December 2022, Darina received heartbreaking news that would unsettle anyone striving for a bright future. She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Having recently undergone surgery to remove her uterus to prevent further complications from years of battling fibroids, she visited the ER due to intense pain, assuming it was a minor post-surgery side effect. However, the diagnosis that followed altered the course of her life forever.

TREATMENT

Darina underwent surgery to redirect her intestines away from the large tumor in her colon, leading to her journey with an ostomy bag—one of the most challenging medical devices to manage. This required her to live with a bag attached to her abdomen, collecting waste outside of her body. Despite the difficulties, Darina handled it with incredible strength and resilience, making the best of an incredibly tough situation.

Darina then began chemotherapy treatments every two weeks. As many know, chemotherapy aggressively targets cancer cells, but its harsh side effects leave patients feeling unwell for days. This was one of the most challenging experiences of her journey, but Darina remained grateful for the unwavering support of her family and community, who stood by her emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

A few months later, Darina underwent another major surgery to remove the majority of her liver, which had been affected by cancer. The procedure was successful, and she recovered well enough to resume chemotherapy treatments.

Her cancer initially responded to the treatment, and the tumor continued to shrink. However, a year later, a scan revealed that cancer cells had spread to other organs. At this point, Darina underwent yet another surgery to remove additional cancer and to reverse her ostomy bag, reconnecting her intestines. The plan was to surgically remove as much cancer as possible while continuing chemotherapy.

We often take for granted the ability to have normal bowel movements until that ability is lost. For Darina, regaining this function was a step toward reclaiming some sense of normalcy. However, the transition was far from easy—her body had to readjust, making this another difficult chapter in her journey.

CURRENT

Fast forward to today, Darina has reached an incredible milestone—26 months of chemotherapy with relatively stable scans for the past several months. However, her oncologist has now recommended transitioning from IV chemotherapy to oral chemotherapy and has referred her to a specialized cancer center, City of Hope in Los Angeles, for further care as new issues arise.

A few months ago, Darina began experiencing symptoms such as leg and abdominal pain, prompting her to seek further evaluation by specialists. After thorough assessments, her medical team recommended radiation therapy to target a growing tumor in her hip, which has been causing severe leg pain, as well as an outpatient procedure to biopsy material found on her last scan in her abdominal area.

Darina’s journey is both tragic and uplifting. Her response to a life-altering diagnosis, marked by determination and an unwavering spirit, highlights her remarkable resilience. In her roles as a mother, wife, sister, niece, cousin, and friend, it’s evident that her strength and deep love for those she cares about are central to her path forward. Processing such difficult news is never easy, but Darina’s courage to keep fighting for a future, despite the obstacles, is truly inspiring.

While Darina’s insurance, through her retired Navy veteran husband, has been invaluable in covering the majority of her costly treatments, the transition to a higher level of care has brought significant out-of-pocket expenses. Co-pays, travel costs for treatments, and certain personalized options not covered by insurance have added financial strain.

Despite these challenges, Darina remains steadfast in her fight, determined to recover and conquer cancer. We invite you to join us in raising funds to support her as she continues exploring every possible treatment option. Your donation is deeply appreciated, and may God bless you abundantly for your generosity.

“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

“Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.”

-Anne Frank

“Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.”

-Samuel Smiles