Tonya's Medical & Chemo bills

Hi, my name is Tonya and I am battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma large diffused B-cell for the 2nd time in less than a year. I was  feeling like I had a long lingering flu. It was getting worse I was always calling out of work sick. I went to 2 walk-ins and I was told the same …the pain in my back and chest was a pulled muscle. I was given muscle relaxers which did not help. My voice started to become feeble and almost nonexistent. I was tired ALL the time-napping in my car on lunch breaks. I started to have trouble breathing. I knew something was very wrong.

I left work on 2/16/17 and went to another walk-in fearing I had pneumonia. The doctor at the walk-in did a few x-rays & showed me my heart was enlarged. He thought I had an aneurism and ordered a rescue come pick me up from the walk-in and bring me right to RI Hospital for a PET scan. I finally get a hold of my husband and explain. He meets me at RI Hospital.

I had all sorts of tests, blood work and scans and cancer was confirmed. I had over 200 cancerous nodes. I was admitted for 4 days and it was a whirlwind of doctors, tests & information overload. I was out of work for 7 months with chemo treatments. I was able to Pay for my  COBRA insurance. It was not easy & very emotional - the sickness, hair loss and appetite loss. I got thru it and was told I was in remission and lymphoma was gone. I felt GREAT! 

I went for my 3 month PET scan December 12th and it was confirmed my cancer is back. I have about 4 or 5 cancerous nodes this time. I need to start another round of more intense chemo beginning 1/8/18 for about 6 weeks then I have to have a stem cell transplant which puts me in the hospital in quarantine for about 3 weeks then home for about 100 days of healing and quarantine. I will essentially be starting with a new immune system. I will be in need of new immunizations and everything you would give a new born. This is a LONG recovery time & Financial time for me. 

I am going on COBRA again which is very expensive but I need my coverage to have my treatments & beat this. I have lost my job & everything is in a whirlwind right now.  My FMLA has run out. So here I am, tucking my pride aside, and asking my family & friends for some help & support during this trying time. This is hard for me to do since I’m very independent and stubborn. I am going to fight my butt off to get better, beat this and get back into the workforce so I can continue a normal life.

If you could please share my story and if everyone could give up a cup of coffee and help donate to help me fight for my life and keep my medical coverage I would be eternally grateful. I love you all from the bottom of my heart. God bless.