Help Katie Kick Cancer Again!
Donation protected
Hello to Katie's family, friends, community and supporters,
My name is Stella Photiou and for those of you who don't know this wonderful human being, I would like to introduce you to my best friend Katie who I've known for almost 25 years. Katie is hands down the most positive, kind, determined, inspiring, giving person and she has made an incredible impact on every life she has come across. Unfortunately, Katie has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in her 34 short years of life. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer (triple negative, stage 2A) back in 2015. She was in remission for 4 years and we all thought that it was a one and done situation. After giving birth to her first born this past March, a beautiful baby girl Eliana, her cancer came back with a vengeance. The breast cancer has metastasized into her bones, spine, lungs, and has also spread all throughout her brain, making her cancer stage 4.
Roughly two weeks after giving birth, Katie started having odd neurological symptoms which was originally diagnosed as Bells Palsy. After a series of many scans and blood tests, it was revealed that Katie's cancer had come back. The cancer has caused a slew of side effects including hearing loss in both ears, nausea, vomiting, chronic ear infections and chronic pain in her bones (especially spine) on a daily basis. It's left half her face paralyzed and the constant pain she is in has left her with limited mobility. She's always fatigued and in need of rest much of the day because of weakness and low energy. Furthermore, Katie has a countless number of weekly doctors appointments, which are roughly 2 hours away from her home and due to her hearing loss, she is unable to drive and must rely on others to drive her. So far in her treatment, she has gone through whole brain radiation, as well as beginning systemic and brain chemotherapy. Due to complications, she has gone to the ER 3 times already and has been in the hospital overnight several times.
Katie's severe amount of side effects, symptoms of cancer, constant doctors appointments and treatment schedule has left her unable to work, leaving her family without an income they rely on. Even though Katie’s husband, Ben and her family have been a huge support, their help is still not enough to pay for the costly medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other necessary living expenses. Katie’s income was needed in order to provide the means to help cover the bills, but now they need help to maintain their monthly expenses.
The hardest thing that Katie has had to face through all of this is not being able to spend the time with her newborn that every mother deserves to. Her limited strength and mobility make it hard for her to take care of and even hold Ellie for long periods of time. Regardless of everything that's going on though, Katie has remained strong, going through every hurdle with a smile on her face and a determination to fight this unlike anything I've ever seen before. Every single doctor, nurse and medical professional who have come in contact with her has mentioned the incredible amount of strength she has and have said they have never had a patient who has handled such a severe situation with the unbeatable positivity she has.
Katie will keep fighting until she beats this, but she needs your help to do so. Any amount, even $1, will help! However, we understand times are tough and if you simply can't donate, please SHARE this on social media. The more people this gets to, the more we can help this incredibly deserving family! Please help Katie beat this once and for all so that she can witness every single precious moment in her daughter's life.
My name is Stella Photiou and for those of you who don't know this wonderful human being, I would like to introduce you to my best friend Katie who I've known for almost 25 years. Katie is hands down the most positive, kind, determined, inspiring, giving person and she has made an incredible impact on every life she has come across. Unfortunately, Katie has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in her 34 short years of life. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer (triple negative, stage 2A) back in 2015. She was in remission for 4 years and we all thought that it was a one and done situation. After giving birth to her first born this past March, a beautiful baby girl Eliana, her cancer came back with a vengeance. The breast cancer has metastasized into her bones, spine, lungs, and has also spread all throughout her brain, making her cancer stage 4.
Roughly two weeks after giving birth, Katie started having odd neurological symptoms which was originally diagnosed as Bells Palsy. After a series of many scans and blood tests, it was revealed that Katie's cancer had come back. The cancer has caused a slew of side effects including hearing loss in both ears, nausea, vomiting, chronic ear infections and chronic pain in her bones (especially spine) on a daily basis. It's left half her face paralyzed and the constant pain she is in has left her with limited mobility. She's always fatigued and in need of rest much of the day because of weakness and low energy. Furthermore, Katie has a countless number of weekly doctors appointments, which are roughly 2 hours away from her home and due to her hearing loss, she is unable to drive and must rely on others to drive her. So far in her treatment, she has gone through whole brain radiation, as well as beginning systemic and brain chemotherapy. Due to complications, she has gone to the ER 3 times already and has been in the hospital overnight several times.
Katie's severe amount of side effects, symptoms of cancer, constant doctors appointments and treatment schedule has left her unable to work, leaving her family without an income they rely on. Even though Katie’s husband, Ben and her family have been a huge support, their help is still not enough to pay for the costly medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other necessary living expenses. Katie’s income was needed in order to provide the means to help cover the bills, but now they need help to maintain their monthly expenses.
The hardest thing that Katie has had to face through all of this is not being able to spend the time with her newborn that every mother deserves to. Her limited strength and mobility make it hard for her to take care of and even hold Ellie for long periods of time. Regardless of everything that's going on though, Katie has remained strong, going through every hurdle with a smile on her face and a determination to fight this unlike anything I've ever seen before. Every single doctor, nurse and medical professional who have come in contact with her has mentioned the incredible amount of strength she has and have said they have never had a patient who has handled such a severe situation with the unbeatable positivity she has.
Katie will keep fighting until she beats this, but she needs your help to do so. Any amount, even $1, will help! However, we understand times are tough and if you simply can't donate, please SHARE this on social media. The more people this gets to, the more we can help this incredibly deserving family! Please help Katie beat this once and for all so that she can witness every single precious moment in her daughter's life.
Organizer and beneficiary
Stella Photiou
Organizer
Temecula, CA
Benjamin Charles
Beneficiary
