Tamara IS Conquering Cancer -- AGAIN!
Donation protected
No one wants to hear the dreaded "c" diagnosis. They especially don't want to hear it twice in their lives. However, that's exactly what has happened to my mother, Tamara McCraney Thorne.
On November 2, 2020, Tamara was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and instructed to immediately start chemotherapy. Outlook was good, so with her positive, can-do attitude that she always seems to have, she started the process without question. Of course she was scared, nervous, worried about her entire family, but if there is one thing we can agree on about Tamara, is that once she sets her mind to something she WILL see it through to the end. My mother made it to remission in January of 2021 and we cried, thanked God, celebrated. We were ecstatic.
Two short days after my mother had been diagnosed, my grandmother, Darlene McCraney, was also diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer that had metastasized. She fought her hardest, supported my mother and the rest of the family where and when she could, but unfortunately cancer took her from us on April 8, 2021.
Coping with the loss of our grandmother, my mom tried to continue life as normal as possible. She kept up with doctors' appointments, took care of her family, spent copious amounts of time with my grandpa, and just tried to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually recover from all cancer had taken from her.
Early June 2021, during a routine surgery to remove a lipoma on her side, everything came to a halt. Her counts were off and her oncologist was immediately called in. They did blood work, checked and rechecked her counts, and finally revealed that they saw blasts in her bloodwork.
Her leukemia was back.
To say it was a shock would be an understatement. We knew she was shook to her core, but if there is one thing I know all will agree on, is that my mom does not give up and that our Lord WILL see her through. She immediately threw herself into the planning of treatment and made it very clear she was not going to let cancer get the best of her.
Initially, the plan was for her to start treatment at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where she was previously treated, and then travel to The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for a bone marrow transplant. Overnight, plans changed. On the morning of June 15th, she and I loaded up the car at 4AM and we made the trek to Jacksonville.
It was a full day of bloodwork, imaging, and meeting the oncology team, led by Dr. James Foran. We checked her into her room, which overlooks a beautiful pond and has views of gorgeous sunsets. Each person she has come in contact with has been soft-spoken, caring, and clearly in the right profession. Just like she did at FWBMC, she has prayed loud and proud for each and every person she has come in contact with since she walked through the doors of the Mayo Clinic.
She will start her chemotherapy on Thursday. They expect her to do chemo for 25 days then travel home to meet with her oncology team at FWBMC. The plan is to then do a round of consolidation chemo while she waits on a transplant match.
Once she has a match, we will travel BACK to The Mayo Clinic, where she will stay for "100 Days of BMT Treatment" as Dr. Foran called it. The first month will be completely based out of the hospital, where all her needs will be met.
Once the first month passes she will be expected to stay local so she can come back to The Mayo Clinic three days a week. As we live over five hours away in Niceville, Florida, there is not a primary residence that she can stay at in Jacksonville. She will have to find a short term rental and transportation to and from The Mayo Clinic on the days we are not able to be with her. This will last for at least two months until they clear her and send her safely back to the panhandle. Given that my father, sister, and I all work full time jobs, and my grandfather can't be expected to be in Jacksonville 24/7, we are asking our friends, family and community for help.
The amount we are asking for is to cover some household bills for at least the next 6 months, my dad's travel and possible lodging when he arrives in Jacksonville on the weekends, and my mom's lodging once she moves to month 2 and 3 of her bone marrow transplant. The amount may seem high, but my mom has been out of work since her primary diagnosis in November 2020. We just want to alleviate the worry and stress off of her and my dad so they can focus on getting her back to full health.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, even sharing the GoFundMe could make all the difference.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, and God Bless.
On November 2, 2020, Tamara was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and instructed to immediately start chemotherapy. Outlook was good, so with her positive, can-do attitude that she always seems to have, she started the process without question. Of course she was scared, nervous, worried about her entire family, but if there is one thing we can agree on about Tamara, is that once she sets her mind to something she WILL see it through to the end. My mother made it to remission in January of 2021 and we cried, thanked God, celebrated. We were ecstatic.
Two short days after my mother had been diagnosed, my grandmother, Darlene McCraney, was also diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer that had metastasized. She fought her hardest, supported my mother and the rest of the family where and when she could, but unfortunately cancer took her from us on April 8, 2021.
Coping with the loss of our grandmother, my mom tried to continue life as normal as possible. She kept up with doctors' appointments, took care of her family, spent copious amounts of time with my grandpa, and just tried to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually recover from all cancer had taken from her.
Early June 2021, during a routine surgery to remove a lipoma on her side, everything came to a halt. Her counts were off and her oncologist was immediately called in. They did blood work, checked and rechecked her counts, and finally revealed that they saw blasts in her bloodwork.
Her leukemia was back.
To say it was a shock would be an understatement. We knew she was shook to her core, but if there is one thing I know all will agree on, is that my mom does not give up and that our Lord WILL see her through. She immediately threw herself into the planning of treatment and made it very clear she was not going to let cancer get the best of her.
Initially, the plan was for her to start treatment at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where she was previously treated, and then travel to The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for a bone marrow transplant. Overnight, plans changed. On the morning of June 15th, she and I loaded up the car at 4AM and we made the trek to Jacksonville.
It was a full day of bloodwork, imaging, and meeting the oncology team, led by Dr. James Foran. We checked her into her room, which overlooks a beautiful pond and has views of gorgeous sunsets. Each person she has come in contact with has been soft-spoken, caring, and clearly in the right profession. Just like she did at FWBMC, she has prayed loud and proud for each and every person she has come in contact with since she walked through the doors of the Mayo Clinic.
She will start her chemotherapy on Thursday. They expect her to do chemo for 25 days then travel home to meet with her oncology team at FWBMC. The plan is to then do a round of consolidation chemo while she waits on a transplant match.
Once she has a match, we will travel BACK to The Mayo Clinic, where she will stay for "100 Days of BMT Treatment" as Dr. Foran called it. The first month will be completely based out of the hospital, where all her needs will be met.
Once the first month passes she will be expected to stay local so she can come back to The Mayo Clinic three days a week. As we live over five hours away in Niceville, Florida, there is not a primary residence that she can stay at in Jacksonville. She will have to find a short term rental and transportation to and from The Mayo Clinic on the days we are not able to be with her. This will last for at least two months until they clear her and send her safely back to the panhandle. Given that my father, sister, and I all work full time jobs, and my grandfather can't be expected to be in Jacksonville 24/7, we are asking our friends, family and community for help.
The amount we are asking for is to cover some household bills for at least the next 6 months, my dad's travel and possible lodging when he arrives in Jacksonville on the weekends, and my mom's lodging once she moves to month 2 and 3 of her bone marrow transplant. The amount may seem high, but my mom has been out of work since her primary diagnosis in November 2020. We just want to alleviate the worry and stress off of her and my dad so they can focus on getting her back to full health.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, even sharing the GoFundMe could make all the difference.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, and God Bless.
Organizer
Cori Thorne
Organizer
Niceville, FL