Support Yana's Second Battle with Cancer

I'm starting this fundraiser to ask for your help in supporting a very dear friend to me. Yana started off as an employee at Clash, then soon became one of my best friends. She was hired when I was going through cancer myself and was there to give me advice since she already had her own battle.

Yana was originally diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma in 2018 at 21 years old. Synovial Sarcoma is a cancer most commonly found in joints or the fluid surrounding a joint. It is non-hereditary and is the result of a genetic chromosomal mutation she has. When Yana was first diagnosed, she was stage 3. Although her tumor was contained solely within the right chest cavity, it was almost 30 centimeters. This resulted in the loss of her lung, chest tissue, diaphragm, several ribs and muscles, as well as part of her pericardium. She has persevered over the years regardless of the challenges she has faced with the losses her body, mind, and soul have faced, but unfortunately has been dealt another awful challenge she must endure and conquer.

Although Yana has been in remission for almost 7 years, a new sarcoma has returned in roughly the same area where a plastic mesh was reconstructed to replace her right diaphragm and is pushing down on her liver. The treatment required will be rigorous, consisting of several chemotherapy sessions and possibly other therapies such as immunotherapy and/or more radiation sessions.

At this time, her specialists who are treating her at Cincinnati Children's are devising the exact treatment regimen they believe will work best at fighting this new sarcoma. She will be out of work for an undetermined amount of time and is relying on her mother for transportation to all of her appointments and procedures, as well as friends who have offered their support. At this time, she does not have a vehicle of her own and is continuing her efforts to obtain her license for the first time this year, provided she is well enough to do so.

She had to take a step back from her original class schedule but is still taking one online class at Sinclair in an effort to keep her progress going toward the healthcare degree she wants to obtain in occupational therapy assistance, where she hopes one day she can help people who have suffered various health conditions that have affected their lives and regular day-to-day activities such as herself. She wants to assist them in getting their lives back to as normal and healthy as possible, as she has had to do once before and now once again through this second battle with cancer.

I will be planning an additional fundraising event later this summer to not only help Yana further, but also to raise awareness in our community to remember to take things seriously and get yourself checked out if you feel something is off. Get second opinions if you feel your doctors are not taking you seriously and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself.