Angie's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Angie did everything she was supposed to do to prevent breast cancer. When one of her sisters was diagnosed with the dreaded disease, Angie got tested for the mutated BRCA gene. The answer was sobering: she had the gene. To get ahead of the disease, Angie had an elective double mastectomy, and hoped for the best.
A year later, in 2015, against all odds, Angie developed breast cancer in the small amount of tissue that was left. It was Stage 3 and “triple negative,” which means it was in her lymph nodes and was a more aggressive type of breast cancer. She was 50 years old. What followed then was more surgery to remove the tumor and lymph node, as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Thankfully, she was declared cancer-free, and, for two years, her scans have been clear. A month ago, she had her scheduled scan, and it was yet again clear. Or so we thought.
Immediately after the scan, Angie became violently ill. She experienced a searing headache and vomiting. She was given pain killers and anti-nausea medications. For a couple of days, we all thought maybe her childhood motion sickness had returned. But something was off. Angie was very emotional and overwrought. The headaches and vomiting continued so she went to the ER at Valley Baptist Memorial Hospital in Harlingen.
A brain scan revealed that she had a mass in the speech area of her brain. Surgery was set up for the next day, and the surgeon removed a golf-ball sized, malignant tumor. Her diagnosis was metastasized breast cancer of the brain. After being released from the hospital, Angie went home to Brownsville for a day. However, she didn’t feel well, so she returned to the ER and was admitted again. She stayed for a few days until she was released and brought home to her parents, Rene and Minerva Sandoval, in McAllen, where she could be watched 24-7.
On Nov. 14, the surgeon removed the surgical staples on her head, and said she was healing very well. He said she could do easy activities at home, but shouldn’t overdo it. If you know Angie, that means she’s ready for the gym! We won’t let her do that.
She began a 15-day radiation treatment on Nov. 15 in Harlingen. We will consult with MD Anderson for additional therapies. She’s in good spirits, and we’re hopeful that she will be able to fight this disease once again. She’s young and healthy, and has never shied away from a fight.
This is where you all come in. Because Angie was in between jobs at the time of the hospitalizations, she had no health insurance. The costs of the hospitals, doctors and other services continue to skyrocket. Her husband, Alfredo “Freddie” Longoria of Brownsville, has placed her on his insurance, but it doesn’t cover the expenses already incurred as well as future deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
Family and friends were very generous the last time we made a public plea for her, and we’re hoping you all will come through again. The last thing she needs is to worry about money. One of her other sisters, Patty Sandoval Sralla, is handling her affairs and will be creating updates on social media.
Thanks in advance for your help and your prayers for healing for our beloved daughter, sister, mother, wife, relative and friend – Angela Sandoval Longoria.
With all our love,
The Sandoval and Longoria families
A year later, in 2015, against all odds, Angie developed breast cancer in the small amount of tissue that was left. It was Stage 3 and “triple negative,” which means it was in her lymph nodes and was a more aggressive type of breast cancer. She was 50 years old. What followed then was more surgery to remove the tumor and lymph node, as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Thankfully, she was declared cancer-free, and, for two years, her scans have been clear. A month ago, she had her scheduled scan, and it was yet again clear. Or so we thought.
Immediately after the scan, Angie became violently ill. She experienced a searing headache and vomiting. She was given pain killers and anti-nausea medications. For a couple of days, we all thought maybe her childhood motion sickness had returned. But something was off. Angie was very emotional and overwrought. The headaches and vomiting continued so she went to the ER at Valley Baptist Memorial Hospital in Harlingen.
A brain scan revealed that she had a mass in the speech area of her brain. Surgery was set up for the next day, and the surgeon removed a golf-ball sized, malignant tumor. Her diagnosis was metastasized breast cancer of the brain. After being released from the hospital, Angie went home to Brownsville for a day. However, she didn’t feel well, so she returned to the ER and was admitted again. She stayed for a few days until she was released and brought home to her parents, Rene and Minerva Sandoval, in McAllen, where she could be watched 24-7.
On Nov. 14, the surgeon removed the surgical staples on her head, and said she was healing very well. He said she could do easy activities at home, but shouldn’t overdo it. If you know Angie, that means she’s ready for the gym! We won’t let her do that.
She began a 15-day radiation treatment on Nov. 15 in Harlingen. We will consult with MD Anderson for additional therapies. She’s in good spirits, and we’re hopeful that she will be able to fight this disease once again. She’s young and healthy, and has never shied away from a fight.
This is where you all come in. Because Angie was in between jobs at the time of the hospitalizations, she had no health insurance. The costs of the hospitals, doctors and other services continue to skyrocket. Her husband, Alfredo “Freddie” Longoria of Brownsville, has placed her on his insurance, but it doesn’t cover the expenses already incurred as well as future deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
Family and friends were very generous the last time we made a public plea for her, and we’re hoping you all will come through again. The last thing she needs is to worry about money. One of her other sisters, Patty Sandoval Sralla, is handling her affairs and will be creating updates on social media.
Thanks in advance for your help and your prayers for healing for our beloved daughter, sister, mother, wife, relative and friend – Angela Sandoval Longoria.
With all our love,
The Sandoval and Longoria families
Organizer
Patty Sandoval Sralla
Organizer
Brownsville, TX
