Waiting is the hardest part - Mandy's fight
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Waiting is the hardest part
Everyone knows that when you go to the doctor and they suspect something is wrong, there is testing that needs to be done. When you have a very complicated medical condition, that testing (and waiting) can be extensive.
Mandy, our daughter, had an abnormal pap smear a couple months ago. Two weeks ago, she went for a colposcopy (further testing). The pathology report from that test was alarming and very scary which included words like “extensive squamous cell carcinoma in-situ”, “high grade intraepithelial lesion dysplasia” and “pattern may be associated with invasive lesions”.
So, she was referred to an Oncologist for further testing and treatment options. We saw the Oncologist on Monday and he immediately scheduled a cone procedure under general sedation for tomorrow. This will determine how deep the cancer cells are.
It is very likely she will need a hysterectomy prior to her kidney/pancreas transplant to prevent further complications and this test will determine what type of hysterectomy she will need in 6 weeks from now.
Dealt a crappy hand – the backstory
Mandy’s father died from complications of cancer when she was 13 years old.
One month later, she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, and soon after became dependent on insulin to survive. Since then, she has had multiple hospitalizations in the ICU with life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis.
There were several periods of time when she was either unemployed with no insurance, or her job simply did not carry affordable health insurance. She had to rely on generic insulin she (thankfully!!) found at the Walmart pharmacy for $25 per vial without a prescription.
She struggled with all aspects of her diabetes growing up, but has done an incredible job of controlling her sugars since Julian was born. She suffered several miscarriages before Julian was conceived, and carried him to 31 weeks, before going through a painful emergency c-section. Julian spent 10 weeks in the NICU before coming home.
Last year, around Thanksgiving, Mandy was hospitalized and diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure, and was immediately referred to start dialysis. Shortly after beginning dialysis, she began the process of testing to be listed for a kidney transplant.
She continues to work full-time and does her home dialysis every night while she sleeps, and comes home to take care of Julian after work, while James is at work. Fortunately, she has decent insurance through her job, however, she has used most all of her paid time off. Her husband works, but they rely on both of their incomes to manage their household bills and her medical bills, along with the growing expense of raising a young child. They really could use some help with paying rent, medical bills, and their lost wages for time off for her appointments, etc.
How you can help
Prayers, please!!
I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps!
Sharing this link with your network would be greatly appreciated.
Also, please message me if you know of a decent social worker in Denton County that can help her get assistance, or any other resources you can think of that might help us get started. She has not had much success with the ones she has spoken with.
I will be updating as often as possible.
Thank you so much for any support, whether it be prayers, monetary, or sharing this link. Any and everything is appreciated!
Everyone knows that when you go to the doctor and they suspect something is wrong, there is testing that needs to be done. When you have a very complicated medical condition, that testing (and waiting) can be extensive.
Mandy, our daughter, had an abnormal pap smear a couple months ago. Two weeks ago, she went for a colposcopy (further testing). The pathology report from that test was alarming and very scary which included words like “extensive squamous cell carcinoma in-situ”, “high grade intraepithelial lesion dysplasia” and “pattern may be associated with invasive lesions”.
So, she was referred to an Oncologist for further testing and treatment options. We saw the Oncologist on Monday and he immediately scheduled a cone procedure under general sedation for tomorrow. This will determine how deep the cancer cells are.
It is very likely she will need a hysterectomy prior to her kidney/pancreas transplant to prevent further complications and this test will determine what type of hysterectomy she will need in 6 weeks from now.
Dealt a crappy hand – the backstory
Mandy’s father died from complications of cancer when she was 13 years old.
One month later, she was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, and soon after became dependent on insulin to survive. Since then, she has had multiple hospitalizations in the ICU with life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis.
There were several periods of time when she was either unemployed with no insurance, or her job simply did not carry affordable health insurance. She had to rely on generic insulin she (thankfully!!) found at the Walmart pharmacy for $25 per vial without a prescription.
She struggled with all aspects of her diabetes growing up, but has done an incredible job of controlling her sugars since Julian was born. She suffered several miscarriages before Julian was conceived, and carried him to 31 weeks, before going through a painful emergency c-section. Julian spent 10 weeks in the NICU before coming home.
Last year, around Thanksgiving, Mandy was hospitalized and diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure, and was immediately referred to start dialysis. Shortly after beginning dialysis, she began the process of testing to be listed for a kidney transplant.
She continues to work full-time and does her home dialysis every night while she sleeps, and comes home to take care of Julian after work, while James is at work. Fortunately, she has decent insurance through her job, however, she has used most all of her paid time off. Her husband works, but they rely on both of their incomes to manage their household bills and her medical bills, along with the growing expense of raising a young child. They really could use some help with paying rent, medical bills, and their lost wages for time off for her appointments, etc.
How you can help
Prayers, please!!
I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps!
Sharing this link with your network would be greatly appreciated.
Also, please message me if you know of a decent social worker in Denton County that can help her get assistance, or any other resources you can think of that might help us get started. She has not had much success with the ones she has spoken with.
I will be updating as often as possible.
Thank you so much for any support, whether it be prayers, monetary, or sharing this link. Any and everything is appreciated!
Organizer and beneficiary
Julie Kuester
Organizer
Lewisville, TX
Mandy Minter
Beneficiary