Ulga Be Gone!
Donation protected
Rose has had quite the journey with medicine throughout her life. She has been studying biology and medicine for the past several years, but now she is experiencing medicine on a more personal level. Rose was recently diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive stage 4 brain cancer there is. Here is her story...
Rose had migraines 2-5 times per year throughout her life since childhood, but in January of 2018 that changed to 2-5 times per month. Then, in April of 2018 she had migraines so severe that she experienced stroke-like symptoms. In May of 2018 her migraines were interfering with daily life and she had seen her neurologist several times since she was home from medical school in the Bahamas. On July 20, 2018 rose had an MRI with a giant white ball on her left frontal lobe. Rose, her parents, sister, and friend met with a neurosurgeon at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis (where she lives) and was told this is most likely a stage two glioma, he would operate within two weeks and hopefully remove at least 80% of it.... she thought, “okay, we can handle that.” Stage 2 is not too bad and Rose is a fighter and exudes optimism, positivity, and humor.
On July 30, 2018 she had an awake craniotomy where they were only able to remove 50% of the tumor. Unfortunately it is wrapped around some critical function areas that control speech and communication. Following the surgery Rose was told the tumor was larger than her surgeon’s fist, and the pathology report confirmed it is actually a stage 4 Glioblastoma. While Rose’s Mom almost fell out of her chair in shock to hear “aggressive brain cancer,” Rose continued on with humor to get through this difficult time and diagnosis. Rose was discharged from the hospital on August 3rd and is continuing to heal from this invasive surgery.
Post surgery brought on some more complications. She was experiencing up to 14 minor seizures per day. Now she is completely unable to drive or work, and since she has been a medical student for the past couple years, and studied other degrees prior, she has already spent her small savings and bills are coming in.
Rose is currently on fertility treatments to harvest some eggs before she endures chemotherapy, which could impair her fertility in the future. She begins radiation and chemotherapy on September 7th for 6 weeks. Then, she will have 6-12 months of chemotherapy. Rose is hoping to try other treatment methods along side with chemotherapy to increase her chances of survival, but all of the clinical trials and treatments come with a price (as does chemo and radiation). Her current health insurance plan only covers 80% of treatment, and her responsibility of 20% is already adding up while she has no income and is unable to work. She will pay a maximum of $6,000 for in-network care, $8,000 for out-of-network care, and will be responsible for 100% of anything that is excluded from her current health insurance plan (the 100% self pay exclusion treatment is at $5,500 so far).
More importantly than financial support, Rose asks for prayers. She believes that God has a plan for her and that this test will become her testimony to help other people! Her passion in life has been to become a doctor to help others, and she is still determined to help others in any way possible. Thank you for reading her story and thank you for your prayers and support.
Here are some links for more information and to follow Rose on her journey:
Rose’s Facebook group, Ulga Be Gone! - https://m.facebook.com/ groups/2185676795040301
Rose’s YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCahD4i_ C6HImQnds5eNAzrw
Information on Glioblastoma’s - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC33993/
Venmo - You can also give directly to Rose (and skip the 2.9% and $0.30 charge through GoFundMe) through Venmo @UlgaBeGone
Rose had migraines 2-5 times per year throughout her life since childhood, but in January of 2018 that changed to 2-5 times per month. Then, in April of 2018 she had migraines so severe that she experienced stroke-like symptoms. In May of 2018 her migraines were interfering with daily life and she had seen her neurologist several times since she was home from medical school in the Bahamas. On July 20, 2018 rose had an MRI with a giant white ball on her left frontal lobe. Rose, her parents, sister, and friend met with a neurosurgeon at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis (where she lives) and was told this is most likely a stage two glioma, he would operate within two weeks and hopefully remove at least 80% of it.... she thought, “okay, we can handle that.” Stage 2 is not too bad and Rose is a fighter and exudes optimism, positivity, and humor.
On July 30, 2018 she had an awake craniotomy where they were only able to remove 50% of the tumor. Unfortunately it is wrapped around some critical function areas that control speech and communication. Following the surgery Rose was told the tumor was larger than her surgeon’s fist, and the pathology report confirmed it is actually a stage 4 Glioblastoma. While Rose’s Mom almost fell out of her chair in shock to hear “aggressive brain cancer,” Rose continued on with humor to get through this difficult time and diagnosis. Rose was discharged from the hospital on August 3rd and is continuing to heal from this invasive surgery.
Post surgery brought on some more complications. She was experiencing up to 14 minor seizures per day. Now she is completely unable to drive or work, and since she has been a medical student for the past couple years, and studied other degrees prior, she has already spent her small savings and bills are coming in.
Rose is currently on fertility treatments to harvest some eggs before she endures chemotherapy, which could impair her fertility in the future. She begins radiation and chemotherapy on September 7th for 6 weeks. Then, she will have 6-12 months of chemotherapy. Rose is hoping to try other treatment methods along side with chemotherapy to increase her chances of survival, but all of the clinical trials and treatments come with a price (as does chemo and radiation). Her current health insurance plan only covers 80% of treatment, and her responsibility of 20% is already adding up while she has no income and is unable to work. She will pay a maximum of $6,000 for in-network care, $8,000 for out-of-network care, and will be responsible for 100% of anything that is excluded from her current health insurance plan (the 100% self pay exclusion treatment is at $5,500 so far).
More importantly than financial support, Rose asks for prayers. She believes that God has a plan for her and that this test will become her testimony to help other people! Her passion in life has been to become a doctor to help others, and she is still determined to help others in any way possible. Thank you for reading her story and thank you for your prayers and support.
Here are some links for more information and to follow Rose on her journey:
Rose’s Facebook group, Ulga Be Gone! - https://m.facebook.com/ groups/2185676795040301
Rose’s YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCahD4i_ C6HImQnds5eNAzrw
Information on Glioblastoma’s - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC33993/
Venmo - You can also give directly to Rose (and skip the 2.9% and $0.30 charge through GoFundMe) through Venmo @UlgaBeGone
Organizer
Jessica Cochran
Organizer
Oakville, MO
