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This is Andra's story. Andra is my best friend. She's my counsin too, but we're best friends first. She's 37. We got some bad news from her oncologist last week: she has Statge IV metastatic breast cancer.
In 2013 she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. She was a trooper through out that year while she underwent a double mastectomy, hysterectomy, chemo and radiation. She was on the path to recovery and breast reconstruction this last year when she went to the hospital a few weeks ago because something was definitely wrong. It turns out that there was a tumor growing on her spine and was contricting the spinal cord causing paralysis. They did emergency surgey to remove as much of the tumor as they could. She's still paralyzed, but is working hard in rehab to re-teach her legs to work again.
Last Friday she finally got to meet with her oncologist. Besides the tumor on her spine, there was also another tumor on one of her lungs. The fact that her cancer came back somewhere else in her body automatically sets it at Stage IV, which means it's treatable but not curative. So, yeah. That news really sucks.
Once we were able to process what that news meant, we moved right into battle mode. Andra has the most incredible attitude about this! She's going to fight this cancer for as long and as hard as she can. But her life isn't going to be all about cancer. She is still very much alive and intends of having an absolutely fabulous next few years. It is my personal mission to make sure that she has the most enjoyable years that she possibly can.
So many friends and family have stepped up in really big ways to offer help and support, and for that, we are all SO incredibly grateful! This next phase of survival is going to be a long road full of all kinds of financial obstacles that we're going to have to figure our way through.
Turns out that cancer is expensive. Lots of people keep asking "What can I do to help?" because you are all so freaking amazing and loving. It's hard for everyone to know what would do the most good at such a hard time so I made out a list of specific practical things that would help Andra and Josias and their family during this journey; some big, some small:
1) Legal Fees: One of Andra's biggest priorities is to make sure her husband, Josias, stays by her side through the entire journey. He's a Guatemalan citizen with some complicated governmental hoops to jump through to make sure that happens. We're looking at ~$2,000 in government and attorney's fees to make sure he stays in the US.
2) Cheap Car: If they're going to be here for a few years, they're going to need a small, cheap reliable car that they can use to take Andra to her doctor's appointments, run errands, etc.
3) Housing: They'll be staying at Andra's parents house for a while, but eventually they would like to find a small apartment or something near/in Olympia, so if anyone hears of anything, please let us know.
4) Ocean Trips: Andra and Josias love going to the beach, so they would love to go as often as they could.
5) Clothes/Makeup: It's a fact that cute, flattering, comfortable clothes make a person feel better. Andra said that the last time she did chemo she felt like she looked like an alien because she lost all her hair, lashes and eyebrows. Makeup and earrings can help make her feel pretty and that can go a long way in making her feel like a normal human being.
6) Counseling: Andra had been seeing a therapist she really likes and would love to see her again to help her get through these really tough times. It costs about $60/session and she would love to go every 2 weeks, if not every week.
7) Spa treatments: Andra LOVES going to the Korean Spa in Tacoma and getting other spa treatments. And pedicures make her feel really good too.
8) Juice: Ne, Andra's mom, is committed to juicing all kinds of organic produce for Andra. So that means lots of fresh produce every day.
9) Entertainment: Andra will want to have as normal a life as possible, so that'll mean spending time with friends and family going to movies or concerts or other performances, if she has the stamina for it.
10) Bucket List: So Andra and Josias were contemplating going to Kauai before they got the news about the cancer. They've never been and would love to go there someday.
11) Misc. Expenses: They'll need some money for gas to go to appointments, groceries, and other misc. expenses.
12) Flowers & Cards: There is no such thing as too many flowers. Andra LOVES fresh flowers! And she posts cards up on her wall in the rehab facility so she can see them every day. Flowers and cards can be sent to the rehab facility:
Providence St. Peter Inpatient Therapy
410 Providence Lane NE, 3rd Floor
Andra Tomas, Room 2B
Olympia, WA 98506
13) Thoughts & Prayers: Keep 'em coming.
Thank you all for be such incredible supportive friends. We will never forget your kindness and generosity!
In 2013 she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. She was a trooper through out that year while she underwent a double mastectomy, hysterectomy, chemo and radiation. She was on the path to recovery and breast reconstruction this last year when she went to the hospital a few weeks ago because something was definitely wrong. It turns out that there was a tumor growing on her spine and was contricting the spinal cord causing paralysis. They did emergency surgey to remove as much of the tumor as they could. She's still paralyzed, but is working hard in rehab to re-teach her legs to work again.
Last Friday she finally got to meet with her oncologist. Besides the tumor on her spine, there was also another tumor on one of her lungs. The fact that her cancer came back somewhere else in her body automatically sets it at Stage IV, which means it's treatable but not curative. So, yeah. That news really sucks.
Once we were able to process what that news meant, we moved right into battle mode. Andra has the most incredible attitude about this! She's going to fight this cancer for as long and as hard as she can. But her life isn't going to be all about cancer. She is still very much alive and intends of having an absolutely fabulous next few years. It is my personal mission to make sure that she has the most enjoyable years that she possibly can.
So many friends and family have stepped up in really big ways to offer help and support, and for that, we are all SO incredibly grateful! This next phase of survival is going to be a long road full of all kinds of financial obstacles that we're going to have to figure our way through.
Turns out that cancer is expensive. Lots of people keep asking "What can I do to help?" because you are all so freaking amazing and loving. It's hard for everyone to know what would do the most good at such a hard time so I made out a list of specific practical things that would help Andra and Josias and their family during this journey; some big, some small:
1) Legal Fees: One of Andra's biggest priorities is to make sure her husband, Josias, stays by her side through the entire journey. He's a Guatemalan citizen with some complicated governmental hoops to jump through to make sure that happens. We're looking at ~$2,000 in government and attorney's fees to make sure he stays in the US.
2) Cheap Car: If they're going to be here for a few years, they're going to need a small, cheap reliable car that they can use to take Andra to her doctor's appointments, run errands, etc.
3) Housing: They'll be staying at Andra's parents house for a while, but eventually they would like to find a small apartment or something near/in Olympia, so if anyone hears of anything, please let us know.
4) Ocean Trips: Andra and Josias love going to the beach, so they would love to go as often as they could.
5) Clothes/Makeup: It's a fact that cute, flattering, comfortable clothes make a person feel better. Andra said that the last time she did chemo she felt like she looked like an alien because she lost all her hair, lashes and eyebrows. Makeup and earrings can help make her feel pretty and that can go a long way in making her feel like a normal human being.
6) Counseling: Andra had been seeing a therapist she really likes and would love to see her again to help her get through these really tough times. It costs about $60/session and she would love to go every 2 weeks, if not every week.
7) Spa treatments: Andra LOVES going to the Korean Spa in Tacoma and getting other spa treatments. And pedicures make her feel really good too.
8) Juice: Ne, Andra's mom, is committed to juicing all kinds of organic produce for Andra. So that means lots of fresh produce every day.
9) Entertainment: Andra will want to have as normal a life as possible, so that'll mean spending time with friends and family going to movies or concerts or other performances, if she has the stamina for it.
10) Bucket List: So Andra and Josias were contemplating going to Kauai before they got the news about the cancer. They've never been and would love to go there someday.
11) Misc. Expenses: They'll need some money for gas to go to appointments, groceries, and other misc. expenses.
12) Flowers & Cards: There is no such thing as too many flowers. Andra LOVES fresh flowers! And she posts cards up on her wall in the rehab facility so she can see them every day. Flowers and cards can be sent to the rehab facility:
Providence St. Peter Inpatient Therapy
410 Providence Lane NE, 3rd Floor
Andra Tomas, Room 2B
Olympia, WA 98506
13) Thoughts & Prayers: Keep 'em coming.
Thank you all for be such incredible supportive friends. We will never forget your kindness and generosity!