Brandie's Cancer Medical Fund
Donation protected
Brandie is fighting cancer... for the third time. She found out it was the 3rd fight in April when she had her PET scan and it showed 3 new tumors, and a extensive ventral hernia (this is visible). The doctors were going to fix the hernia and start 6 weeks of daily radiation in June, unfortunately the weight loss surgery she had is not working as quickly as hoped, so they decided to wait. She was experiencing increased pain and saw the doctors for follow up in September, where they found the tumors had increased in size and the hernia worsening. She leaves again this week to plan for surgery and radiation, for the radiation she will have to stay in Philadelphia for the 6 weeks living in a hotel.
She is a wife and mother and four kids. Up until now they have kept their heads above water, but the bills keep mounting and the tests keep coming. We just need to pull together to get her a little further ahead and pay off some of these med bills she has!!
It started March of 2011. She went to the hospital with left abdominal pain and was misdiagnosed due to bias... they attributed her pain to obesity. She had joined Weight Watchers and that August was 2lbs away from my 50lb mark when she found a lump in her abdomen. This would change her whole life. See that visit back in March showed an abnormality in her abdominus rectus muscle. This abnormality had gotten bigger and was known as a desmoid tumor, a beast of a tumor! She had surgery in Sept 2011, 3 days before she was supposed to run her first 5k. She was sad she had trained for months for that. This surgery had multiple complications! She lost her job, financially they were worse than ever, and finally the chronic pain from the mesh they used to replace her abdominal wall had taken her sanity (situational depression is HORRIBLE). Her tumor doctor was pretty crappy to say the least! The doctor didn't follow up like one would think. As you research this specific tumor, they are super rare and continue to come back, especially when you dont treat them properly. Well that is what happened! She had just finally gotten a new job, one she loves! And had to have a repair of the mesh three months into her new job! She found a new doc to address the pain and depression, found hot yoga and was happy. Until she went for what was suppose to be an MRI to tell her that she was in remission... instead, there was a bigger tumor, 4 inches higher and clinging to her ribs. They did some research and landed at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philly, as they specialize in her type of cancer and how to treat it. She would again have surgery, this time they would remove not only what was left of her abdominus rectus muscle but they would take flank muscle as well. She may get lucky and it doesnt come back, but like ANY cancer patient knows, there is no guarantee! So its a wait and see game.
But for now, we just all need to pull together and help this beautiful woman take care of her family. She needs to stay ahead of the bills. Being behind on medical bills can take a toll on you emotionally and can cause your physical healing to take longer too.
Even a few spare dollars will help. Anything is better than nothing. The goal we put up is just a goal. Don't feel like the goal is too big, just give what you feel you are led to.
Thank you in advance!
She is a wife and mother and four kids. Up until now they have kept their heads above water, but the bills keep mounting and the tests keep coming. We just need to pull together to get her a little further ahead and pay off some of these med bills she has!!
It started March of 2011. She went to the hospital with left abdominal pain and was misdiagnosed due to bias... they attributed her pain to obesity. She had joined Weight Watchers and that August was 2lbs away from my 50lb mark when she found a lump in her abdomen. This would change her whole life. See that visit back in March showed an abnormality in her abdominus rectus muscle. This abnormality had gotten bigger and was known as a desmoid tumor, a beast of a tumor! She had surgery in Sept 2011, 3 days before she was supposed to run her first 5k. She was sad she had trained for months for that. This surgery had multiple complications! She lost her job, financially they were worse than ever, and finally the chronic pain from the mesh they used to replace her abdominal wall had taken her sanity (situational depression is HORRIBLE). Her tumor doctor was pretty crappy to say the least! The doctor didn't follow up like one would think. As you research this specific tumor, they are super rare and continue to come back, especially when you dont treat them properly. Well that is what happened! She had just finally gotten a new job, one she loves! And had to have a repair of the mesh three months into her new job! She found a new doc to address the pain and depression, found hot yoga and was happy. Until she went for what was suppose to be an MRI to tell her that she was in remission... instead, there was a bigger tumor, 4 inches higher and clinging to her ribs. They did some research and landed at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philly, as they specialize in her type of cancer and how to treat it. She would again have surgery, this time they would remove not only what was left of her abdominus rectus muscle but they would take flank muscle as well. She may get lucky and it doesnt come back, but like ANY cancer patient knows, there is no guarantee! So its a wait and see game.
But for now, we just all need to pull together and help this beautiful woman take care of her family. She needs to stay ahead of the bills. Being behind on medical bills can take a toll on you emotionally and can cause your physical healing to take longer too.
Even a few spare dollars will help. Anything is better than nothing. The goal we put up is just a goal. Don't feel like the goal is too big, just give what you feel you are led to.
Thank you in advance!
Organizer and beneficiary
Rachel Burns
Organizer
Holland, MI
Brandie Gavitt McSpadden
Beneficiary