Latest Update:

I flew down to VA to be with my mama and help her start to get the radiation and treatment she needs. She is struggling with some pretty significant pain, which has made some of the medical procedures hard to accomplish. Please continue to keep my mom in your prayers as we continue to navigate this difficult situation. Thank you so much for your support. So many friends and family members have reached out asking how they can help during this time. This GoFundMe was created to help ease some of the financial stress for my mom, while she remains hospitalized and undergoing treatment, and to allow my stepdad, Tim, to stay by her side without added worry. Your support will help cover medical-related expenses and day-to-day needs as we focus on her care and recovery.

Whether you are able to donate, share this page, or keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, we are incredibly grateful. The love, kindness, and support we have received mean more than words can express. ❤️

Mom’s Story:

The week before Thanksgiving, my mom traveled to Cleveland Clinic and underwent a bronchoscopy, which revealed a tumor blocking approximately 70% of her bronchial airway and showed that the cancer had spread throughout her lungs. She was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, with the possibility of stage 4 pending the results of a PET and CT scan to determine official staging and whether the cancer had spread to her bones or brain. Due to her condition, she was placed on oxygen and was unable to fly home, so we drove her from Cleveland back home to Virginia. For over a week we fought with insurances and doctor offices to get prior authorization for her to get an appointment scheduled to get her necessary imaging and scans.

While waiting for these approvals, my mom developed cold, which turned into pneumonia and then last Tuesday experienced a sudden medical emergency when her heart rate rose to 180 beats per minute. She went by ambulance to the emergency room, where she was found to be in atrial fibrillation (AFib). She was admitted to the ICU so her blood pressure and heart rhythm could be stabilized.

During her ICU stay, doctors discovered a significant buildup of fluid in her lungs. Since then, more than 1,800 cc of fluid has been drained from her lungs on multiple occasions. She later underwent surgery to have a port placed to allow for ongoing drainage and treatment; however, this procedure was unsuccessful because the fluid was draining from multiple areas rather than a single location.

Today, she underwent a second surgery in an effort to identify a way to make the drainage system functional and better manage the fluid buildup. She has a PET scan scheduled for the end of this week, and we are hoping she can continue to improve and be released from the hospital in time to complete the scan so her treatment plan can be determined moving forward.

My mom asked me to share this update so family and friends are aware of what is going on, as she has not been able to keep up with messages and calls she has received. Please know that she is not purposely ignoring anyone. If you are able, please keep my mom and our family in your thoughts and prayers.