Amelia's Medical Fund
Donation protected
I have always had lots of moles and freckles, that my family calls me the "moly child". I had stated to my doctor last May during my annual exam that the mole on my stomach had started to have some different colors. She had taken a picture and measured and stated that if it starts to make any more changes to go see a dermatologist in three months or so.
Well, it did start changing more and more and even ended up growing outside my skin. Especially more so since August. You all know how life is. It just seems to move on while having one. So in early January, I had called my local clinic, which so happened to be Mayo Clinic Health Solutions here in Onalaska, WI. I was able to see a dermatologist only a few days later. I saw the dermatologist and when they saw the mole on my torso, she was thinking it was going to be an "Atypical" mole. I thought I had nothing to worry about. She shaved it off right then and there and I was very impressed with the process. I didn't feel a thing. Thank you anesthetics! She sent it to pathology and it should take about two weeks before I would get the results.
Though that wasn’t the case for me. My dermatologist called only two days later informing me that the pathology results came back… and it was Melanoma. My heart sank right then and there. She wanted me to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN as the doctors there specialize in Melanoma and that is all that they do. This has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I am only 26 years old.
Later that night, I told my partner, Chris, and immediately broke out into tears. Who would have ever thought that something like this could ever happened to me. The next day I had called to make another appointment, so that Chris and I could ask some questions and get more answers. Neither of us knew what to expect or how to deal with something like this. We met with the dermatologist a few days later and were able to get some of our questions answered. She had stated that with the location of where the mole was located that it could have been related to genetics rather than sun exposer. I wonder, is that a good thing? I love the sun but have always taken precaution of sun exposure and wore sunscreen ALL THE TIME.
It took me a couple of days before I could find the words to tell my parents. I had an appointment scheduled at Mayo in Rochester for the following Monday and they told us they were coming too. My parents have been through this before with both their fathers; each having their own different types of cancer. They’ve sat in the meetings with the doctors. They’ve asked the questions. (I didn’t know where to begin or what to even ask.) I am really grateful to my parents. They will do anything for me and help me out in any situation. Not sure how many other parents would do that for their children, but I am very glad mine do. I love my parents very much.
We went up on Sunday since my appointment was bright and early the next morning…. well for me it was anyway. I had a couple of appointments that morning; the first was with dermatology. The doctor I was scheduled to see called in sick, thus I ended up seeing the Chief of the dermatology, Dr. Jerry Brower. He was wonderful and very compassionate. He believed the type of Melanoma I have is Stage 2 Superficial Melanoma. Believe me when I say there is nothing Superficial about it! I was originally diagnosed as having Nodular Melanoma, which is much worse.
I had lots of “fun” things going on that day. They did mole mapping, (which is an experience in itself); had another mole removed from the back of my thigh as a precaution. Pathology report came back a couple days later as a moderate atypical mole; meaning that I had nothing to worry about. Thank you God!
Later that morning we met with the surgeon to discuss removing the remaining melanoma on my torso and to see if and where it had spread, specifically to any of my lymph nodes. If the cancer was found in any of my lymph nodes then it would reclassified as Stage 3 Cancer. She explained that the day before the surgery, I would have to have a radioactive dye injected into me since cancer cells are clear they wanted to “make them glow”! They’ll be able to see if the Melanoma has spread and if so where. I was asked to participate in a couple of clinical researches for Melanoma. This won’t help me in my treatment, but maybe it’ll help these great men and women researchers find what causes Melanoma and how to prevent and possibly cure it.
I have surgery scheduled on Friday, February 10th, 2017. I have never had surgery. I am extremely scared and exasperated with the situation. I am frustrated for I have no control of the outcome; but I know I can control how I feel. I have a great and awesome support system. I have family and friends that are there for me, 24/7/365. That is what reliefs me when I’m feeling over-whelmed with all of this.
This is my story, and why I’m starting a Go Fund Me page. I need help. There are and will be many medical bills and travel expenses to rid me of this toxic cancer. When I take off from work for treatment, I do not get paid. Any donation that is made, regardless of the amount, will be greatly appreciated and will help me out tremendously. I am trying to raise $5,000 within one month to help me get through this. That $5,000 will help me cover my immediate medical out of pocket and travel expenses.
With my story, I hope it has helped you become more awareness of Melanoma; that it’s more than sun exposure. I want, no, I need people to start seeing a dermatologist right away when they see a mole change. I don’t think it would have made a difference if I had gone to see a dermatologist sooner, but I am content seeing the doctors that I am and getting the best treatment in the best place possible.
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I am grateful for Chris living in La Crosse, and partnering his life with me. I’m thankful for my Dad reaching out to his contacts in La Crosse in the Healthcare industry so I could find employment. I am grateful for my career at Health Tradition Health Plan and the wonderful people I work with. I am grateful for my many friends who support me through this bump in the road in my journey in life. I am grateful for a lovely family that believes in a wonderful and merciful God. I appreciated all their prayers. And finally, I am grateful to all the doctors that work together as a team to help me through this cancer.
I will post later of an update on my surgery and what else I find out.
Well, it did start changing more and more and even ended up growing outside my skin. Especially more so since August. You all know how life is. It just seems to move on while having one. So in early January, I had called my local clinic, which so happened to be Mayo Clinic Health Solutions here in Onalaska, WI. I was able to see a dermatologist only a few days later. I saw the dermatologist and when they saw the mole on my torso, she was thinking it was going to be an "Atypical" mole. I thought I had nothing to worry about. She shaved it off right then and there and I was very impressed with the process. I didn't feel a thing. Thank you anesthetics! She sent it to pathology and it should take about two weeks before I would get the results.
Though that wasn’t the case for me. My dermatologist called only two days later informing me that the pathology results came back… and it was Melanoma. My heart sank right then and there. She wanted me to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN as the doctors there specialize in Melanoma and that is all that they do. This has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I am only 26 years old.
Later that night, I told my partner, Chris, and immediately broke out into tears. Who would have ever thought that something like this could ever happened to me. The next day I had called to make another appointment, so that Chris and I could ask some questions and get more answers. Neither of us knew what to expect or how to deal with something like this. We met with the dermatologist a few days later and were able to get some of our questions answered. She had stated that with the location of where the mole was located that it could have been related to genetics rather than sun exposer. I wonder, is that a good thing? I love the sun but have always taken precaution of sun exposure and wore sunscreen ALL THE TIME.
It took me a couple of days before I could find the words to tell my parents. I had an appointment scheduled at Mayo in Rochester for the following Monday and they told us they were coming too. My parents have been through this before with both their fathers; each having their own different types of cancer. They’ve sat in the meetings with the doctors. They’ve asked the questions. (I didn’t know where to begin or what to even ask.) I am really grateful to my parents. They will do anything for me and help me out in any situation. Not sure how many other parents would do that for their children, but I am very glad mine do. I love my parents very much.
We went up on Sunday since my appointment was bright and early the next morning…. well for me it was anyway. I had a couple of appointments that morning; the first was with dermatology. The doctor I was scheduled to see called in sick, thus I ended up seeing the Chief of the dermatology, Dr. Jerry Brower. He was wonderful and very compassionate. He believed the type of Melanoma I have is Stage 2 Superficial Melanoma. Believe me when I say there is nothing Superficial about it! I was originally diagnosed as having Nodular Melanoma, which is much worse.
I had lots of “fun” things going on that day. They did mole mapping, (which is an experience in itself); had another mole removed from the back of my thigh as a precaution. Pathology report came back a couple days later as a moderate atypical mole; meaning that I had nothing to worry about. Thank you God!
Later that morning we met with the surgeon to discuss removing the remaining melanoma on my torso and to see if and where it had spread, specifically to any of my lymph nodes. If the cancer was found in any of my lymph nodes then it would reclassified as Stage 3 Cancer. She explained that the day before the surgery, I would have to have a radioactive dye injected into me since cancer cells are clear they wanted to “make them glow”! They’ll be able to see if the Melanoma has spread and if so where. I was asked to participate in a couple of clinical researches for Melanoma. This won’t help me in my treatment, but maybe it’ll help these great men and women researchers find what causes Melanoma and how to prevent and possibly cure it.
I have surgery scheduled on Friday, February 10th, 2017. I have never had surgery. I am extremely scared and exasperated with the situation. I am frustrated for I have no control of the outcome; but I know I can control how I feel. I have a great and awesome support system. I have family and friends that are there for me, 24/7/365. That is what reliefs me when I’m feeling over-whelmed with all of this.
This is my story, and why I’m starting a Go Fund Me page. I need help. There are and will be many medical bills and travel expenses to rid me of this toxic cancer. When I take off from work for treatment, I do not get paid. Any donation that is made, regardless of the amount, will be greatly appreciated and will help me out tremendously. I am trying to raise $5,000 within one month to help me get through this. That $5,000 will help me cover my immediate medical out of pocket and travel expenses.
With my story, I hope it has helped you become more awareness of Melanoma; that it’s more than sun exposure. I want, no, I need people to start seeing a dermatologist right away when they see a mole change. I don’t think it would have made a difference if I had gone to see a dermatologist sooner, but I am content seeing the doctors that I am and getting the best treatment in the best place possible.
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I am grateful for Chris living in La Crosse, and partnering his life with me. I’m thankful for my Dad reaching out to his contacts in La Crosse in the Healthcare industry so I could find employment. I am grateful for my career at Health Tradition Health Plan and the wonderful people I work with. I am grateful for my many friends who support me through this bump in the road in my journey in life. I am grateful for a lovely family that believes in a wonderful and merciful God. I appreciated all their prayers. And finally, I am grateful to all the doctors that work together as a team to help me through this cancer.
I will post later of an update on my surgery and what else I find out.
Organizer
Amelia Cathryn Trumbower
Organizer
La Crosse, WI
