Hello everyone, I’m Roland, Keri’s husband. I’m here today to tell you about my amazing wife, Keri and to inform and help catch everyone up to speed with Keri’s health and current status. Keri How best to describe Keri… Well, the best way for me, as her husband, is to start by telling you that Keri has the most infectious Giggle. I’ve loved her giggle from day one. It is such a genuine reaction, when she finds something funny, cute or slightly embarrassing. When you hear it, you immediately smile. Keri is a kindhearted soul and is always willing to go out of her way to help someone in need. An animal lover of all and contributor to many groups. (Humane Societies, ASPCA, World Wildlife Fund, etc) She is my person. I am so, very lucky we found each other. Diagnosis - Dec 2017 As some may already know, my amazing wife Keri was diagnosed and living with Metastatic Breast Cancer since December of 2017. (Metastatic Breast Cancer is Breast Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It her case, lower spine.) Since then, Keri, our family and her team of doctors, have worked diligently to maintain her treatment. This past year… Sept 2, 2024 Keri fell while taking a bath. When I went to help Keri stand and get out of tub, she had a brief fainting spell and blacked out, for just a couple of seconds. This scared the hell out of us. In the Hospital, they did a head MRI and found that her cancer had spread to her brain. Another round of radiation and new type of chemo that penetrates the brain barrier. Oct 2024 Back in ER due to Keri having abdomen difficulties and started showing signs of weakened ability to stand and walk, on her own. After 2 more MRI’s they found a mass on her spinal cord c5 c6 vertebrae. Keri is very weak and bed ridden. She has lost complete mobility and is unable to walk or stand. Since our home’s floor-plan has the bed and bath rooms located on the second story, it became a difficult obstacle for Keri’s needs. So as a family, the decision was made to moved Keri into her Mother's home. Mom is an RN and works from home 2 days week. Dec 2024 Back in Hospital. Large blood clot found in Keri’s leg. Now on blood thinners. Constant leg nerve pain. 2024 - Current This year so far, has been a struggle, but we all push on and stay strong for Keri. This spring to summer has been especially hard. Keri slowly became unable to eat and keep food/fluids down. Her pain was increasing each day. It was extremely difficult for us all, the powerless feeling not be able to “fix it”. Once we were finally able to see her Oncologist, he decided to switch up her treatment and go about it a different way. After a week, the new treatment and meds changed everything! Keri was able to slowly gain her appetite back, keep it down and her overall mood improved. She got back to being herself again, giggles and all! Keri, has battled all the obstacles of this past year and she has continued to remain strong and ever so hopeful. She is truly an amazing and most wonderful person. (Best Wife Ever!) 7/7/2013 -Wedding Day. July 7th, Keri and I were able to rent a van to get out of house and celebrate our 10 year Wedding Anniversary.!! Though our original plans were to go and visit Ireland, we spent the day together for an infusion, lunch at Chipotle, a few laps around Target. We then went home and watched a few documentaries about Ireland. It was not the environment we were hoping for, but we made the absolute best of it. We had a blast together. July 25th, was Keri’s 18th “30th Birthday” She had an amazing week long celebration of gifts, Family weekend trip to Brown County, Indiana and lots of shopping. July, has been full of great moments and family outings. We also received great news, that the latest MRI showed no longer signs of cancer METS on the brain. The past year of Chemo/Radiation has worked! Although this is absolutely great news and everyone’s spirits have raised tremendously, Keri is still bed ridden and wheelchair bound. The financial burden has taken a toll on our family. Even though, every bit of our family has supported us, there is a limit that we all can handle. Hence why I am here to do what I’ve tried so hard, not to have to do. Keri, getting ready to go relax on patio. - 2024 Asking for help… Transportation Over the past year, we have had to come up with ways to get Keri to her Doctor, chemotherapy and testing appointments or even out and about. We have been renting a wheelchair accessible van, when available, costing between $100-$150 for 4 hrs/a Day. We do try to schedule appointments on the same day, but not always the case. Keri may have a couple appointments a month, and has had multiple appointments in a week. As you can tell, the cost of transportation alone, stacks up. We have also found a transportation service that can pick up and drop off Keri, however the cost is the same. $100-$150. There is a service through indigo buses, and is less expensive, however a 3-4 hour trip turns in to an 8-10 hr excursion. Then Keri has to sit in the wheelchair, uncomfortable, for all that time. On occasions we like try to have Keri out and about over a weekend, although this costs $300-$400/wknd. Unfortunately, we do not rent a van, over the weekend, often for this reason. We are going on a year with these transportation costs, and additional cost of supplies needed for Keri's care. This is why we decided to start this Crowd Funding account to help cover the costs that we have incurred and costs going forward, in addition to help save for a wheelchair accessible van of our own. Mobility Freedom Since receiving the great news of Keri getting back to stable, we are currently looking at ways to help Keri to have more freedom to get out and about. We are looking into New/Used Wheelchair accessible vans, Vehicle modifications, etc. Used to New Wheelchair accessibly vans run from 20-80K and to add a lift to our current Traverse would cost about 15K+. The sticker shock of giving someone mobility freedom is high, but with consistent option of having a means of travel, we can take Keri out into the world again and more often. She is really missing shopping and being able to join her family on normal outings. Our Niece's Open House - 2024 Financial Relief Both Keri and I have also added to our debt, trying to stay on top of our new financial situation. We have both worked so hard to reduce our debts and have made a lot of progress, however this past year has not helped any. Our incomes have been split amongst multiple households. Keri mainly uses her disability towards Mom’s household needs (supplies, groceries/food, scripts not covered, etc) and our own home’s utility bills. I handle our Mortgage/Car payments and Insurance, Food/Groceries, Home maintenance, Pet care, supplies, etc. We both feel like we are only treading water trying to go upstream and have not made any progress. This has only added to the stress that we already have with Keri’s health and care. Any funds beyond our current transportation needs will go towards previous incurred costs of Keri’s care and well being. Keri’s family have all taken financial hits as well, with Keri’s immediate care. Even though, Dad is retired, Mom is trying to retire and still works 2 days a week, sister has a family, with now, 2 daughters going to IU! I am truly amazed at what we all have accomplished together as we progressed through the trials of the past 12 months. As a family we have been a tight unit and strong powerhouse, but the stress is always there. Thank you! Thank you for taking the time to read our story and to learn of Keri’s health status. We do want to express that is completely OK!, if you cannot give financially. We understand with the current economy and raising interest rates, times are hard for all. We also know there are many other people that are in need. We are not really sure what to expect with this fundraising, but if we were to just raise enough for a weekend van rental just to get Keri out of the house, it would all be worth it! We greatly appreciate your time. We would like to ask for your assistance, to take the time to share Keri’s LFEBridge journey, to your social media accounts and help spread our story to the masses. We Thank You greatly for any help you are able you give. We are open to any suggestions that can help our situation. Please reach out anytime. We are humbled by the generosity people have shown over the course of Keri’s health journey. People have always found ways to help, whether it be a card, gift, home cooked meal, phone call, etc. Thank you so much! No matter what the future holds we stay strong, hopeful and resilient, as a family. Thank you. Roland and Keri D. Last Family Vacation, Clearwater, Florida - July, 2024
Artículos relacionados
