Yolanda Plesniarski Riley's Journey...

Hello everyone,

My name is Michele Contu, and I am trying to raise some funds to relieve the burden that has fallen on Yolanda Riley. If you are reading this, you know Yolanda, and what type of person she is. Peaceful, and loving, caring, kind, humble and soft spoken, always generous to all she knows. Yolanda's biggest and proudest accomplishments thus far, is being a loving mom and best friend to her two beautiful daughters, Jessica and Amanda.

For those who have been blessed to be in Yolanda's life for a long time, you may know her journey up till' today. For those just reading this, I will tell you about how we got here.

Yolanda is a survivor or breast cancer, already beating this terrible disease once in her life in 2010.

In early 2019, Yolanda had been feeling abnormal pains thruout her abdomen and upper quadrant of her chest. Like all of us, she at first thought things would pass, or maybe this was another pain from all the surgeries that were done to her prior for her breast cancer. As a few months progressed, Yolanda felt more severe pain in her chest area, at which time she contacted her MD that helped her battle breast cancer. She was sent for scans, and testing and in July 2019 it was revelaed that a small mass on the top lobe of her right lung, was cause for concern. Yolanda seeked quick, and immediate help by becoming a patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. Further testing, and a lung biopsy at MSK determined that Yolanda was a candidate for a lobectomy of the top portion of her right lung. This was not the best prognosis or treatment that was hoped for, but nevertheless it may get rid of the cancer. Yolanda was taken in for this procdure which usually takes several hours, however within 30 min. the operating MD returned to us, stating the mass was inoperable because the pleura that surronds the lung and rib cage was cancer as well. No lobectomy was done, instead tubes were put into Yolanda's side and lung to help drain this cancerous fluid as well as a procedure to seal the pleura. Yolanda began a slow, painful recovery from this procedure and spent several days in MSK before being sent home.

Yolanda was momentarily relieved at that time to learn, that she qualified for a clinical trial on a drug called Tagrisso. As with any of the clinical trial medications, no one knows if it will work, if it does work for how long. She began Tagrisso in August of 2019. The pain in her lung and chest never has gone away, but the Tagrisso gave her hope that maybe this would heal the lung cancer. All thru this time, Yolanda continues appointments for brain scans, CT Scans, PET Scans, biopsies, bloodwork etc.

In 2022, when the above scans/tests were performed, the MD saw that the Tagrisso had now stopped working in Yoalnda's body, the original mass on the top of her lung has grown in size and the cancer has now spread to another part of her lung, as well as her diaphragm, lymph node(s) in her chest and her liver.

The MSK doctors have confirmed, that Yolanda now has three (3) mutations in the cells of her body, which seem to be the cause of the cancer(s). Yolanda underwent radiation treatment in hopes to control the cancer, however, this too was unsuccesful.

On June 9, 2022 Yolanda began the biggest battle of her life yet, chemotherapy for Stage 4-lung cancer.

I have seen my friend of many years health and happiness decline before my eyes, and I am truly trying to do anything I can in this world to help her. We are researching a few hopsitals/clincics in the US right now that may have a clinical trial she will qualify for, however with the three (3) mutations, it is becoming harder. We are researching hospitals in other countries, to see if something is offered there that is not in our country. We are looking everywhere for help.

Truly, I do not know what the answer is but I have watched this woman go to work everyday since being diagnosed, some days, barely being able to walk 6 feet. Yolanda has NEVER complained about her journey, never said why me. Her biggest heartache and the most tears come from knowing the possibility of her not being here to see her two proudest accomplisments, Jessica and Amanada continue to become the two beautiful young women they are, and hoping one day to hold her grandchildren. Yolanda loves each of you reading this very much. Whether you are her family, she has done your hair for you, invited you to a party, is a childhood friend, you know her girls or know her just from town, etc. we can all agree that Yolanda is a strong women with a battle going on within her body, and deserves some kind of break. 

I am hoping to raise enough money, so that Yolanda can leave her job for as long as needed, and not have the stress of paying her bills, rent or groceries. I know times are hard on everyone right now, however if everyone can give what they can spare, it may give Yolanda the time and mental rest so she can get stronger and be ready to take the next step to beat this terrible disease. If Yolanda qualifies for any of the treatments she is researching, she will need to travel and be away from home. I am hoping we can put her mind at ease and releive her financial burden a little bit.

I thank you for reading this, and if you cannot donate, ask for your daily prayers for Yolanda and her ongoing battle.

(Yolanda has ZERO knowledge of this fundraiser, as she is a private person who wishes to burden no one). This will be shared with Yolanda in the upcoming days.

***100% of funds donated will be sent to Yolanda***