Some of you may not know, but my younger sister, Staci (31), was recently diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma - thyroid cancer.

In November 2024, Staci went to the ER for a CT scan of her lungs due to pneumonia. The scan revealed an enlarged thyroid, prompting further testing. An ultrasound showed two nodules, one of which was significantly larger. A fine needle aspiration (biopsy) of the nodules indicated they were benign.

After consulting with her ENT, they decided to remove the left nodule due to its size. Staci had surgery on April 9, 2025, in Petoskey and received the shocking news six days later that it was in fact cancerous.

She then saw an endocrinologist in Traverse City for further testing, this time on her lymph nodes to check for spreading. An ultrasound on May 5, 2025, revealed "generously enlarged" lymph nodes.

Her ENT now recommends another fine needle aspiration, this time of her lymph nodes. This brings us to where we are today.

Staci has already undergone one surgery and will need at least one more to fully remove her thyroid and possibly some lymph nodes if the cancer has spread.

Traveling from her home in Alpena to Petoskey and Traverse City for appointments with specialists has caused her to miss work and lead to mounting medical bills. Her family is not usually one to ask for help, which is why I am setting this up to assist with the costs of gas for travel, overwhelming copays, and childcare for her children when traveling.

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