Hello family, friends, and compassionate people. I'm reaching out today to seek help for myself and my family. I'm currently battling a rare cervical cancer, Non-HPV Adenocarcinoma Cervical Cancer, Gastric-Type, Stage 2B. This is my first public announcement of my cancer journey. This LFEBridge campaign hopes to rally support and raise funds to help ease the financial burdens associated with my treatment and care. Though my diagnosis of cervical cancer is recent, on November 1st, 2024, the symptoms began over a decade before my final diagnosis. Sadly, these symptoms were ignored and passed along as other ailments. I was told my excessive discharge is normal after giving birth, especially after a vaginal birth of twins (November 2006 - David and Hannah), and that it would go away. When it didn't, doctors told me the discharge was a result from not losing the baby weight, since after a year of caring for twins and not much of myself, I was almost 200 lbs. I worked hard over the next years and lost over 50 lbs, but the discharge remained. My pap smears were normal, no blood tinged the discharge, so my doctors said I would need to live with it, because they didn't know what caused the discharge. Along with discharge for 16 years, I also had abnormal periods ranging from light to heavy, stopping for a day in the middle and picking up again, from three days to seven days, plus sex hurt, and I normally bled afterward. All in my medical chart. Fast forward to January 2024, I slipped on ice while shoveling our Minnesota driveway. After the bruising on my hip went away, I noticed something felt wrong. My doctor said it could be age (44, almost 45) slowing my healing. I told her my discharge flowed heavier, and she told me I made it to perimenopause. As the months passed, the pain in my pelvis grew, making it difficult to walk some days, but I wasn't ready for old age to stop me, so I kept pushing forward. Sex became more painful, so much so that I rarely wanted sex. The skin on my front left pelvis area hurt, like a burn that never went away, and over the summer, became worse. In August I went to see my gynecologist. She told me one of my uterine fibroids grew substantially, and now it was the size of an apple. She set me up with an ultrasound, explained what she saw, which explained everything very neatly. Sex hurt because the fibroid was getting hit. Discharge and abnormal periods because the fibroid sat at my cervix, blocking the entry. Why we couldn't have children, because the fibroid blocked sperm from entering. She even told me I could likely get pregnant, after the fibroid was removed. I hadn't felt that happy in a while, finally receiving some answers. My gynecologist set up an appointment with another gynecologist, one who specialized in surgery. She changed everything. In October 2024, preparing myself for this easy, minimally invasive surgery, my new gynecologist didn't like the ultrasound scan, and after deciding she wanted an MRI, she also decided to take a uterine biopsy. "Just to make sure," she said. Since I didn't have any abnormal pap smears, checking for cervical cancer was just a box to check off before surgery. Scheduled my MRI for November 1, and I went home without a worry. October 31st, she called me, but I was handing out candy for trick-or-treaters. On November 1st, home from my MRI and trying to decipher the results through my portal, she calls again. She tells me she's sorry, but I have cervical cancer. I have cervical cancer? I was told before that I didn't have cancer. I don't have HPV. My pap smears were normal. But I have cervical cancer. A PET Scan was set up, and when I met my surgical oncologist, she told me they didn't know what type of cervical cancer I had, because I didn't have any types of HPV. But she did know my cancer was aggressive, and I needed immediate surgery, complete removal of my cervix, my uterus, the top of my vagina, and my fallopian tubes and ovaries. No more children. This was Friday, and my surgery took place on Monday. Tuesday my twins, David and Hannah, were turning 16. Pathology revealed my rare cancer, Non-HPV Adenocarcinoma Cervical Cancer, Gastric-Type, Stage 2B, and that my tumor was 5.8 cm with parametrial involvement. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/case_report/pdf/118122/20240127-2797-pxsmkb.pdf After surgery, we moved quickly on to radiation and chemotherapy, since my type of cancer often has a poor prognosis. https://diagnosticpathology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13000-021-01129-9 Five radiations a week over six weeks (a holiday and a snowstorm added extra time), with five Cisplatin injections, and two internal brachytherapy radiation sessions. The goal of this campaign is to raise $25,000, which will directly contribute to covering the medical costs related to my chemotherapy and radiation sessions at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, doctor bills leading up to diagnosis, and all other necessary expenses that keep arising throughout my battle with this aggressive disease. Healing after radiation requires around 6 months, which is where I'm finally going to be. My second three-month scan is August 18th, 2024, but it will require years until I'm able to call myself cancer free. The funds will also ensure that I can afford vital post-treatment care and rehabilitation to regain strength and quality of life. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make an enormous difference in my life and the lives of my children, David and Hannah, as well as relieve some of the strain my husband, Brian, has felt from the moment I told him I have cancer. I believe in the power of community, positive thoughts and prayers, and the collective strength we offer as a community to support someone in need. How you can help: Make a donation: Every dollar counts, and your generosity will directly impact my ability to access the medical care and support I need. Please consider giving what you can and help us reach our fundraising goal. Share the campaign: Even if you're unable to donate, you can still make a tremendous impact by sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and social networks. The more people who are aware of my story, the greater our chances of reaching our goal. Send your love and prayers: While financial contributions are essential, we understand that not everyone may be in a position to donate. Your messages of love, encouragement, and prayers will provide invaluable emotional support during this challenging time. Thank you. With all the love and gratitude I have. Heather, Brian, David, and Hannah
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