Tracy’s cancer recovery fund
Donation protected
Hello my name is Ashlynn, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to read our mother’s story. Our family was blindsided in July with a diagnosis that was very unexpected and since has put a lot of stress on our mother’s life. We would like to try to alleviate some of that stress which has been caused by no income and bills going unpaid.
In late July, our mother was rushed to the ER with the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, to the point where she was short of breath and doubled over. When she arrived to the ER, they performed multiple tests, including a CT scan which found a bowel perforation caused by mass hanging off her intestine measuring approximately 4.6 cm. Although the mass was the biggest concern at that time,there were many other lesions throughout her abdominal cavity identified on the CT as well. She was then transferred to Harrisburg, where we met a team of colorectal surgeons and general surgeons. Just hours after arriving, she underwent what we thought would be one of the most crucial and determining surgeries. The doctor was able to successfully resect the portion of her bowel in which was perforated and remove the largest mass to send for pathology. After several weeks of hospitalization, Mom was finally home and doing well. But then just a few weeks later, Mom was back in the hospital with a small bowel blockage and underwent another abdominal exploratory surgery, which was unsuccessful. We received a call explaining they tried to perform surgery, but had to back out due to a “frozen abdomen”, which is inoperable. In result, the blockage was not repaired and a NG tube was placed for several weeks. After several more weeks of hospitalization, Mom was back home, receiving nutrients through a PICC line every 24 hours due to not being able to eat or tolerate food on her own.
We are now in early October, just a week shy of being cleared by the colorectal doctor. Mom is again experiencing vomiting, severe, abdominal pain and discomfort, which warrants yet another hospital visit. This time things were a little different. Mom’s blockage was back and she spent several weeks in Lititz. She was receiving oral chemo medication, and has had several surgery consultations from many general surgeons, colorectal surgeons, surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, and radiologists but the prognosis from all doctors led us to the same options due to being inoperable. The option was removing the NG tube, making her comfortable, allowing her to eat on her own to see how she was able to tolerate food, and when the time was necessary, provide Hospice services.
Mom was not ready to give up and we were not ready to give up either. We asked if there were other hospitals that we could transfer to that may be able to help. This led us to Pittsburgh. Mom was transferred out to Pittsburgh, where she met a surgical oncologist who was very optimistic, and willing to take on Mom’s case although we knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. The doctor has given us light at the end of the tunnel. Mom underwent surgery, just several days after her arrival. The doctor was able to successfully resect the portion of her intestine that had the blockage and also remove several lesions that were visible without having to place a peg tube or ileostomy bag. Mom still has several lesions throughout her abdominal cavity, but the doctor is very optimistic that the oral chemo medication will help shrink and alleviate some of Mom‘s ongoing symptoms as time passes, now that her body is able to absorb the chemo medication. Mom spent several weeks in Pittsburgh recovering at the hospital as well as with family nearby until she was cleared by the surgical oncologist to return home to Lancaster.
Mom is currently home and doing well. She has gotten her appetite back and is eating what she can tolerate. She will be starting the oral chemo meds again while trying to gain some of strength back. Mom has a long road to recovery and unfortunately, we don’t know when, or, if she will return to work. With that being said, we are asking for donations to help alleviate the stress of incoming medical bills as well as other financial obligations mom already had.
In late July, our mother was rushed to the ER with the sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, to the point where she was short of breath and doubled over. When she arrived to the ER, they performed multiple tests, including a CT scan which found a bowel perforation caused by mass hanging off her intestine measuring approximately 4.6 cm. Although the mass was the biggest concern at that time,there were many other lesions throughout her abdominal cavity identified on the CT as well. She was then transferred to Harrisburg, where we met a team of colorectal surgeons and general surgeons. Just hours after arriving, she underwent what we thought would be one of the most crucial and determining surgeries. The doctor was able to successfully resect the portion of her bowel in which was perforated and remove the largest mass to send for pathology. After several weeks of hospitalization, Mom was finally home and doing well. But then just a few weeks later, Mom was back in the hospital with a small bowel blockage and underwent another abdominal exploratory surgery, which was unsuccessful. We received a call explaining they tried to perform surgery, but had to back out due to a “frozen abdomen”, which is inoperable. In result, the blockage was not repaired and a NG tube was placed for several weeks. After several more weeks of hospitalization, Mom was back home, receiving nutrients through a PICC line every 24 hours due to not being able to eat or tolerate food on her own.
We are now in early October, just a week shy of being cleared by the colorectal doctor. Mom is again experiencing vomiting, severe, abdominal pain and discomfort, which warrants yet another hospital visit. This time things were a little different. Mom’s blockage was back and she spent several weeks in Lititz. She was receiving oral chemo medication, and has had several surgery consultations from many general surgeons, colorectal surgeons, surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, and radiologists but the prognosis from all doctors led us to the same options due to being inoperable. The option was removing the NG tube, making her comfortable, allowing her to eat on her own to see how she was able to tolerate food, and when the time was necessary, provide Hospice services.
Mom was not ready to give up and we were not ready to give up either. We asked if there were other hospitals that we could transfer to that may be able to help. This led us to Pittsburgh. Mom was transferred out to Pittsburgh, where she met a surgical oncologist who was very optimistic, and willing to take on Mom’s case although we knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. The doctor has given us light at the end of the tunnel. Mom underwent surgery, just several days after her arrival. The doctor was able to successfully resect the portion of her intestine that had the blockage and also remove several lesions that were visible without having to place a peg tube or ileostomy bag. Mom still has several lesions throughout her abdominal cavity, but the doctor is very optimistic that the oral chemo medication will help shrink and alleviate some of Mom‘s ongoing symptoms as time passes, now that her body is able to absorb the chemo medication. Mom spent several weeks in Pittsburgh recovering at the hospital as well as with family nearby until she was cleared by the surgical oncologist to return home to Lancaster.
Mom is currently home and doing well. She has gotten her appetite back and is eating what she can tolerate. She will be starting the oral chemo meds again while trying to gain some of strength back. Mom has a long road to recovery and unfortunately, we don’t know when, or, if she will return to work. With that being said, we are asking for donations to help alleviate the stress of incoming medical bills as well as other financial obligations mom already had.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashlynn Baldwin
Organizer
Lancaster, PA
Tracy Baldwin
Beneficiary