Help Tara survive cancer and follow her dreams!
Donation protected
My name is Cynthia, and Tara (whom this fundraiser is for) is my eldest daughter. We live in Toronto, with my partner, Ravi, our youngest daughter, Uma, and my mother-in-law, Sudha.
Tara is 18 and was taking a gap year to travel before starting university in Sept 2019. We had spent just over 6 months planning her trip which would have taken her to New Zealand, Thailand, Bali and Vietnam. She was working as a swim instructor and lifeguard and saving as much as she could to finance the trip.
In late November, she got a travel vaccine shot and a week later became very ill. A number of blood tests kept coming back abnormal over the next few weeks, but no one knew why she was ill or what was happening with the blood work. Finally, a few days before she was to fly in January, she had a chest x-ray that showed a large mass. The trip has been called off, for now.
Since then, we have been told it is a type of lymphoma - yet to be determined what type, but it is looking right now like Hodgkins. Regardless of the type, it is treatable, but it's going to be a long process. Most likely, it will be a full 6 months before she is well again. She will receive chemotherapy, and possibly radiation. Next week she is scheduled for a core biopsy, and after that we will know more about the treatment details.
Because there is a fertility risk, she will be meeting to discuss egg harvesting and freezing before treatment. She wants to have children some day, and this will keep that possibility open.
We are super fortunate to live in a place where most of the costs for treatment and for the fertility program are covered by public health care. There is also some private insurance, if needed. However, there are some things that are not covered and we are a low-income artist household. We would greatly appreciate any help that can be given.
Funds raised will first go directly to the costs of medicines and tests that are not covered by insurance. Then to related costs, such as travel to and from the hospital, as well as to purchase things that will help Tara be more comfortable while receiving treatment; a wig and hats, as there will likely be hair loss, and a protective mask to prevent illness as her immune system will be weakened, acupuncture and massage treatments, possibly... a puppy (we are aware that a puppy will be more work for us, but it will also give Tara something to focus on besides being ill, and will also bring comfort). Finally, money will be set aside to cover the fees for keeping her eggs frozen until she is ready to have kids, and IVF. If anything remains beyond that, it will go towards Tara's trip or university. She is most likely going to defer her placement in university for another year so that she can have some time to heal and then do the trip that she was supposed to be on right now.
Please help if you are able. Even a small donation can be put towards some of these things and we are so thankful for any help!
Tara is 18 and was taking a gap year to travel before starting university in Sept 2019. We had spent just over 6 months planning her trip which would have taken her to New Zealand, Thailand, Bali and Vietnam. She was working as a swim instructor and lifeguard and saving as much as she could to finance the trip.
In late November, she got a travel vaccine shot and a week later became very ill. A number of blood tests kept coming back abnormal over the next few weeks, but no one knew why she was ill or what was happening with the blood work. Finally, a few days before she was to fly in January, she had a chest x-ray that showed a large mass. The trip has been called off, for now.
Since then, we have been told it is a type of lymphoma - yet to be determined what type, but it is looking right now like Hodgkins. Regardless of the type, it is treatable, but it's going to be a long process. Most likely, it will be a full 6 months before she is well again. She will receive chemotherapy, and possibly radiation. Next week she is scheduled for a core biopsy, and after that we will know more about the treatment details.
Because there is a fertility risk, she will be meeting to discuss egg harvesting and freezing before treatment. She wants to have children some day, and this will keep that possibility open.
We are super fortunate to live in a place where most of the costs for treatment and for the fertility program are covered by public health care. There is also some private insurance, if needed. However, there are some things that are not covered and we are a low-income artist household. We would greatly appreciate any help that can be given.
Funds raised will first go directly to the costs of medicines and tests that are not covered by insurance. Then to related costs, such as travel to and from the hospital, as well as to purchase things that will help Tara be more comfortable while receiving treatment; a wig and hats, as there will likely be hair loss, and a protective mask to prevent illness as her immune system will be weakened, acupuncture and massage treatments, possibly... a puppy (we are aware that a puppy will be more work for us, but it will also give Tara something to focus on besides being ill, and will also bring comfort). Finally, money will be set aside to cover the fees for keeping her eggs frozen until she is ready to have kids, and IVF. If anything remains beyond that, it will go towards Tara's trip or university. She is most likely going to defer her placement in university for another year so that she can have some time to heal and then do the trip that she was supposed to be on right now.
Please help if you are able. Even a small donation can be put towards some of these things and we are so thankful for any help!
Organizer
Cynthia French
Organizer
Toronto, ON
