We fight for Mariana Duke
Donation protected
*March 29, 2018: Mariana is a week out from her 2nd round of Chemo and like the champ she is, you would never guess she is having any side effects. As always her smile radiates as a true sign that she is winning this battle. She stopped the cold cap treatments, which was to help her maintain her hair as the after care restrictions were extremely cumbersome. But just look at her, with hair or no hair she is amazingly beautiful inside and out! The other day I stopped to see her and she was glowing! My daughter even commented “How is she glowing? There’s no sunlight in here.” So if you’re ever feeling down on yourself...DON’T! Just think “What would Mariana do?” Mariana does not complain. Mariana smiles. Mariana takes control of her life. Mariana inhales confidence and exhales fear. Mariana appreciates every moment. Mariana is determined. Mariana chooses to inspire. Mariana greets each day with strength. BE LIKE MARIANA!!!
*Feb 19, 2018: It’s been a couple of weeks since my sisters double mastectomy and every day is a blessing. Her scars have begun to heal and her pain has almost subsided to a bare minimum. Most think it’s due to the awesome meds but we know it’s due to her radiant spirit that keeps her smiling throughout this fight. On March 1st she will begin her first round of chemo out of six rounds. Mariana found out that her breast cancer is a more aggressive form of breast cancer called Triple negative breast cancer, which only affects 10-20% of women. We know chemo is going to be a really tough road with many side effects including nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. We however have found a company that will help Marina keep her hair through the use of a cold cap that literally freezes the hair follicles on her head when used during chemo. The cold cap treatments are not covered by insurance and are pretty costly with a fee of $1,200 for each round of chemo. From the moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer Mariana has kept her spirits up, making those around her laugh and smile when all they wanted to do was cry. We thank all those who have given to Mariana’s GoFundMe account to help her with the cost of not being at work for the next 6 months. We now need your help to continue to share the account to help us pay for her cold cap treatments which will cost approximately $7,200. So please share, have your friends share it, have their friends share it!!! Thank you!!!
#teammariana #fubreastcancer
*Update Feb 4, 2018: And we’re out! Thank you to @henrymayohosp and the wonderful nurses who took excellent care of our sister @mariana_duke24 ! And a most heartfelt appreciation goes to her doctors Dr. Senofsky and Dr. Ashijan for working their magic! Score: Mariana-1... Cancer-0
#teammariana #fubreastcancer
*Update Feb. 2, 2018: Mariana is currently in surgery undergoing a double mastectomy. We’re all in the waiting room praying for our little sister.
*Update Jan. 14, 2018: Before I share the following updates on Mariana’s breast cancer, keep in mind that she is a fighter and she is strong and most important,she has all of us! The personal decisions Mariana has made are being shared so you may be with her throughout this journey. This is her story and her decisions and it is solely unique to her. In just a little over a week we have met the most amazing people starting with her oncologist Dr. Gregory M. Senofsky. He has taken the time to explain the journey and leaving us a little bit calmer each time. Best advice he has given us... “Stay off Google!” Please do the same. Three days after her diagnosis, we believed there was only one lump measuring approximately 2cm and to be removed with a lumpectomy followed with radiation treatment. Two days later, the MRI showed 3 lumps very close to each other measuring a total 7.7cm. Her lymph nodes thankfully looked normal but a lumpectomy was no longer an option, nor was radiation. But remember she is fighter, she is strong and she has all of us and we are ready to fight. Dr. Senofsky explained he would need to perform a mastectomy on her left breast and be treated with several cycles of chemo therapy. Being that Mariana is so young at 32 years old, she does not want to ever have to worry that the cancer will occur on her right breast. So with the thoughts of her young son Jaxson, her wonderful husband Brandon by her side and I representing the entire family on her other side, she made the decision to have a double mastectomy. We have several appointments ahead of us and a tentative surgery date of February 2nd and thus Mariana will need to take much longer off of work than anticipated. But remember she is a fighter, she is strong and she has all of us. Please consider any donations to help her and Brandon with limiting any financial stressors and please continue to share our GoFundMe campaign “We fight for Mariana Duke”. #wefightback
*January 5th, 2018...It’s been 7 days ago since we got the call that tried to break us but little did it know that we were born with fire in our veins. It’s been 7 days since it tried to crush us but little did it know that our hearts come from generations of fighters. It’s been 7 days since IT thought its battle was with only one of us but little did it know that one means all of us. It’s been 7 days and we will continue to be fierce in this battle. It’s been 7 days since our 32 year old sister Mariana was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 7 days we went from not knowing what the next day would bring to having a plan that will prove that we will win. Mariana Duke will not be defined by a stage or a treatment. She will wake up each day with us beside her as her rock, her voice, her anchor.
Mariana will move mountains but we can be there for her by providing any funds you can donate. She has a lot of doctor visits ahead of her and will need an extensive amount of time off from work with little to no pay. Thank you so much for helping us fight!
Thank you in advance for your prayers and your generosity to fight with us. I will continue to post updates of our fight.
*Feb 19, 2018: It’s been a couple of weeks since my sisters double mastectomy and every day is a blessing. Her scars have begun to heal and her pain has almost subsided to a bare minimum. Most think it’s due to the awesome meds but we know it’s due to her radiant spirit that keeps her smiling throughout this fight. On March 1st she will begin her first round of chemo out of six rounds. Mariana found out that her breast cancer is a more aggressive form of breast cancer called Triple negative breast cancer, which only affects 10-20% of women. We know chemo is going to be a really tough road with many side effects including nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. We however have found a company that will help Marina keep her hair through the use of a cold cap that literally freezes the hair follicles on her head when used during chemo. The cold cap treatments are not covered by insurance and are pretty costly with a fee of $1,200 for each round of chemo. From the moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer Mariana has kept her spirits up, making those around her laugh and smile when all they wanted to do was cry. We thank all those who have given to Mariana’s GoFundMe account to help her with the cost of not being at work for the next 6 months. We now need your help to continue to share the account to help us pay for her cold cap treatments which will cost approximately $7,200. So please share, have your friends share it, have their friends share it!!! Thank you!!!
#teammariana #fubreastcancer
*Update Feb 4, 2018: And we’re out! Thank you to @henrymayohosp and the wonderful nurses who took excellent care of our sister @mariana_duke24 ! And a most heartfelt appreciation goes to her doctors Dr. Senofsky and Dr. Ashijan for working their magic! Score: Mariana-1... Cancer-0
#teammariana #fubreastcancer
*Update Feb. 2, 2018: Mariana is currently in surgery undergoing a double mastectomy. We’re all in the waiting room praying for our little sister.
*Update Jan. 14, 2018: Before I share the following updates on Mariana’s breast cancer, keep in mind that she is a fighter and she is strong and most important,she has all of us! The personal decisions Mariana has made are being shared so you may be with her throughout this journey. This is her story and her decisions and it is solely unique to her. In just a little over a week we have met the most amazing people starting with her oncologist Dr. Gregory M. Senofsky. He has taken the time to explain the journey and leaving us a little bit calmer each time. Best advice he has given us... “Stay off Google!” Please do the same. Three days after her diagnosis, we believed there was only one lump measuring approximately 2cm and to be removed with a lumpectomy followed with radiation treatment. Two days later, the MRI showed 3 lumps very close to each other measuring a total 7.7cm. Her lymph nodes thankfully looked normal but a lumpectomy was no longer an option, nor was radiation. But remember she is fighter, she is strong and she has all of us and we are ready to fight. Dr. Senofsky explained he would need to perform a mastectomy on her left breast and be treated with several cycles of chemo therapy. Being that Mariana is so young at 32 years old, she does not want to ever have to worry that the cancer will occur on her right breast. So with the thoughts of her young son Jaxson, her wonderful husband Brandon by her side and I representing the entire family on her other side, she made the decision to have a double mastectomy. We have several appointments ahead of us and a tentative surgery date of February 2nd and thus Mariana will need to take much longer off of work than anticipated. But remember she is a fighter, she is strong and she has all of us. Please consider any donations to help her and Brandon with limiting any financial stressors and please continue to share our GoFundMe campaign “We fight for Mariana Duke”. #wefightback
*January 5th, 2018...It’s been 7 days ago since we got the call that tried to break us but little did it know that we were born with fire in our veins. It’s been 7 days since it tried to crush us but little did it know that our hearts come from generations of fighters. It’s been 7 days since IT thought its battle was with only one of us but little did it know that one means all of us. It’s been 7 days and we will continue to be fierce in this battle. It’s been 7 days since our 32 year old sister Mariana was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 7 days we went from not knowing what the next day would bring to having a plan that will prove that we will win. Mariana Duke will not be defined by a stage or a treatment. She will wake up each day with us beside her as her rock, her voice, her anchor.
Mariana will move mountains but we can be there for her by providing any funds you can donate. She has a lot of doctor visits ahead of her and will need an extensive amount of time off from work with little to no pay. Thank you so much for helping us fight!
Thank you in advance for your prayers and your generosity to fight with us. I will continue to post updates of our fight.
Organizer
Marisa Rissling
Organizer
Palmdale, CA
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