My name is Kamryn and I’m fundraising to help with my medical expenses! My Story: I began my dream job at Logan University in January of 2024, running the Anatomy Lab and teaching Anatomy for the head, neck, and face. In February of 2024, I began experiencing sharp, stabbing pain in my right shin causing me to limp. I got X-Rays, MRI, CT scans, PET scans, etc. and was diagnosed with an unknown kind of bone tumor in my shin which has prevented me from walking since. After weeks of testing and meeting with Orthopedic surgeons, oncologists, and pathologists, I received my final diagnosis: intramedullary osteosarcoma. It is one of the most rare forms of bone cancer meaning I am quite literally 1 in a million. I had my first surgery which consisted of the surgeon cleaning out my bone (called a curettage) and packing it with a bone graft. I continued to be a non-weight bearing but went back to Logan with renewed vigor, and began to work with my students and run the lab on crutches as I began Physical Therapy. I wanted to prove to myself and my students that even physical disabilities can't prevent you from doing what you love. However, after months of physical therapy, I still couldn't walk. I couldn't understand why I was not progressing. Little did I know, my surgeon did not get it all as he thought. I returned to my surgeon to find the tumor returned in November of 2024. After several weeks of hard deliberation and more scans, my family and I decided on the best option for treatment: amputation. So, on the 14th of April 2024, I made the hardest decision of my life. I became a right above-the-knee amputee. As I sit here and write this, it seems so surreal. No one ever expects to go through something like this, and I continue to ask myself every day why it happened. I thought the hardest part would be making the decision to amputate but it wasn't. The hardest part is acceptance of my new normal and realizing it is okay to ask for help. So now, I am asking. I need help with covering the costs of my prosthetic leg, medical equipment (like my wheelchair), chemotherapy treatments, physical therapy appointments, and counselors to help me with my mental health as I continue to push through the hurdles of my recovery. These funds will go towards helping me finally get back on my "feet" after not being able to walk for over 2 years now. It’s been a long road and continues to have its twists and turns. While it has been hard, I continue to push towards my goals of being active and healthy with a positive attitude so I can return to working at the best place with the best people, and help continue to educate my favorite people on how to be the best, future doctors.
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