Laura's Life with Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Donation protected
Laura's Story:
On Thanksgiving 2018 morning, around 5 am, my throat hurt bad enough to go to the ER. My tonsils were so swollen with strep and severe tonsillitis, the ER doctor wanted to get a CT scan. They found thyroid cancer and admitted me for further testing. Since then, I've traveled to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for more testing and to meet with surgeons.
"A cancer diagnosis is hard for anyone and brings a fear of an uncertain future and the burden of not knowing if I will die of cancer. It's not supposed to happen at my age. I've heard the first 100 days are the worst, and finding a new normal where I can cope with the rest of my life will be a fight. With cancer, let's face it...words are inadequate. It's hard to articulate how being seriously ill feels."
Laura has been diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer, and it has spread into the lymph nodes on the right side and center of the neck and chest. She will have a total thyroid removal, total central lymph node removal, and a neck dissection on her right side. She will travel to Mayo Clinic for surgeries and all follow-up care (every 3 months), and will be on thyroid medication for the rest of her life.
Laura and Chris, along with their four children, are struggling to recover from the shock of a cancer diagnosis. Luckily, they have family and friends to help with their school-age children when Laura and Chris travel to Rochester. They could all certainly use your prayers!
While Laura and Chris's insurance will help pay for some of her surgeries and care, they are already faced with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses - especially travel costs.
Please consider donating to help mitigate out-of-pocket and travel expenses that the Fenner family is faced with. Their expenditures are beginning to add up, and they could use funds right away. Any amount that you can donate to the Fenners would be immensely appreciated.
On Thanksgiving 2018 morning, around 5 am, my throat hurt bad enough to go to the ER. My tonsils were so swollen with strep and severe tonsillitis, the ER doctor wanted to get a CT scan. They found thyroid cancer and admitted me for further testing. Since then, I've traveled to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for more testing and to meet with surgeons.
"A cancer diagnosis is hard for anyone and brings a fear of an uncertain future and the burden of not knowing if I will die of cancer. It's not supposed to happen at my age. I've heard the first 100 days are the worst, and finding a new normal where I can cope with the rest of my life will be a fight. With cancer, let's face it...words are inadequate. It's hard to articulate how being seriously ill feels."
Laura has been diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Cancer, and it has spread into the lymph nodes on the right side and center of the neck and chest. She will have a total thyroid removal, total central lymph node removal, and a neck dissection on her right side. She will travel to Mayo Clinic for surgeries and all follow-up care (every 3 months), and will be on thyroid medication for the rest of her life.
Laura and Chris, along with their four children, are struggling to recover from the shock of a cancer diagnosis. Luckily, they have family and friends to help with their school-age children when Laura and Chris travel to Rochester. They could all certainly use your prayers!
While Laura and Chris's insurance will help pay for some of her surgeries and care, they are already faced with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses - especially travel costs.
Please consider donating to help mitigate out-of-pocket and travel expenses that the Fenner family is faced with. Their expenditures are beginning to add up, and they could use funds right away. Any amount that you can donate to the Fenners would be immensely appreciated.
Organizer
Susan J Sexton
Organizer
Olathe, KS
