Support for Dana & Family: Cancer & Gastroparesis Diagnosis

Hi all, I’m creating this GoFundMe for my sister, Dana, and her family as they navigate through medical complications that have left her unable to work. After a cancerous tumor was removed from her abdomen in March, Dana was left with a paralyzed stomach (gastroparesis). As far as doctors can tell from testing, the paralysis is permanent. Her vagus nerve was somehow damaged during surgery, and she will have to live with this condition indefinitely. Her quality of life has since deteriorated and working is not feasible. As the sole breadwinner for her family (wife Casey and 3-year-old daughter Rayden), these past few months have placed enormous stress on them— both emotionally and financially.

Her story:

Dana’s medical issues started in January this year. An abdominal scan for an unrelated illness found a tumor near Dana’s stomach. A biopsy then determined the tumor to be cancerous—a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Her oncologist decided surgery was the best route, and the tumor was removed. While the removal was successful, Dana’s digestive system was no longer functioning properly after the procedure. Further hospital visits and testing found the surgery to have caused stomach paralysis (i.e. her stomach muscles no longer function). She is now unable to retain any solids or non-clear liquids. Anything she eats comes back up due to her stomach not being able to empty itself. She is essentially in a constant state of nausea, unable to eat, and then becomes sick if she does eat. A PICC line has been inserted to provide her with necessary nutrition; however, this is only a temporary solution.

Throughout this ordeal, Dana’s paid time-off was completely exhausted. She hoped to bounce back after the surgery, but now the exact opposite has occurred, and she cannot work at all. Their financial stress has become critical at this point, which is why I’m reaching out to the community for help. Anything donated will go directly to living costs and medical bills. Her current medical bills stand at $12,000. While she has applied for short-term disability, that process is still ongoing.

As many of you already know, Dana is a truly genuine light in this world. For me, she has been my rock and unwavering source of love and support since we were young. And as a nurse, she has dedicated her life to caring for others. I hope that we can return this care and compassion to her during her time of need.

There will be a long road ahead as she adjusts to her new circumstances. She will be seeking further medical counsel, searching for treatments and solutions, and likely undergoing future procedures to deal with the gastroparesis. We are unsure of what this all will entail, but I do know she will get through this with the support and reassurance of her family, friends, and community. Thank you so much for reading and offering support to Dana, Casey, and Ray. They are grateful for any help to stay afloat during this difficult season.