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Medical Fund

Hello, my name is Christine, I'm almost 52.  I have 3 teenage children.  Two years ago I was struggling with severe pain, chronic diarrhea, flushing in my neck, lethargy and other minor symptoms.  The pain was mostly under my ribs, thought it was my stomach, maybe ulcers.  I was doubling over in pain, my knees would buckle.  My doctor gave me medicine for Peptic Ulcers, which I vomited regularly.  He then scheduled an Upper GI to check for ulcers, there weren't any.  Next a CT Scan to check for gallstones.  No stones, but they could clearly see a dozen tumors in my liver, Stage 4 cancer.  Liver cancer is usually a secondary cancer, have to look for the Primary.  After several months and many tests, they could not find my Primary cancer.  I had to go to the Department of Unknown Origin Cancers at University of Michigan.  There I was told that I have Neuro Endocrine Cancer with Stage 4 Liver cancer.  This is a 1 in a million cancer.  It's not hereditary and it's NOT curable.

The cancer is produced and released by glands in my intestines.  It gets carried in blood and dropped off into my liver, where it makes tumors.   I am 20 years younger than the average patient, so they decided to treat me radically with radiation.  First, a year ago April, I had radiated microbeads sent into my femoral artery and sent directly to my largest tumor (8 x 10 cm) in my liver.  Then last September I had more radiation sent to the same tumor by laser.  I was laid up for weeks, extreme pain.  I have 12 to 15 tumors in my liver.

This cancer does not respond to Chemotherapy.  I cannot have a liver transplant.  I do recieve a monthly shot called Sandostatin.  It slows down the production of hormones in my intestions, so less cancer is secreted.  Less cancer sent to my liver, slows the tumors from growing.

There are many side effects to the Sandostatin, pain in my hips, clogs my gallbladder, lethargy.  I've had 16 shots now.  I had an MRI every 3 months, to check on the condition of the tumors.  At some point they may turn radical and the shots will not help keep them in check.  I was told that I have about 8 years or possibly more.

Recently, I've come down with Rheumatoid Arthritis...  severe pain in my knees, ankles, feet and hand.

Yesterday, my husband, Tim, 50, was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia....  He is in University of Michigan Hospital for the next month.  He's already had his first blood transfusion and chemotherapy.  BTW, Tim's first wife passed away from Ovarian Cancer after a 3 year struggle.

Words cannot express how shocking all of this has been.  The hospital is 1 1/2 hours away from our house.  Our deductable is 9,000.00 a year.  We are not a high income family.  I never thought I would reach out to the public for help, but here I am.  And, I'm on my knees..  My husband, Tim, is a strong, caring, moral man.  He is loved by his family, coworkers and friends.  Words cannot express what I am feeling right now.

It's difficult for me, health wise, to make the drive all the time.  It's even worse having to charge up credit cards at the gas pumps.  

I truly appreciate anything than anyone is willing to do to help us get through this.  Thank you for reading
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Donations 

  • Nancy Smith Mazza
    • $50 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Christine Punzina Ostergren
Organizer
Battle Creek, MI

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