Many of you have been following my battle with stage IV Metastatic
Melanoma for the past 22 months. I've been asked to update my story
and bio for those new supporters & prayer warriors. I was
diagnosed with a 17lb. liver tumor two days after giving birth to our
son Stoney. After a battle to get to a higher level of care the tumor
was removed & diagnosed as stage IV Metastatic Melanoma. The past
22 months I have had 15 surgeries, four failed chemos & am
currently on a clinical trial chemo drug that is working. Last July I
was sent home on hospice and told that I had at best two weeks left to
live. I felt moved to keep fighting and we went to Dallas and had the
tumors resected once again and found a clinical trial that would
accept me. The trial was in Los Angeles, CA. Starting 11/2013
I traveled from Lubbock, TX to Los Angeles, CA every other week for
chemo because the only opening for this trial was in Los Angeles. I
was finally granted a transfer to MD Anderson in Houston June
2014, I now travel to MD Anderson, Houston from Lubbock, TX every
other week. Since this drug is NOT FDA approved many places that help
with travel and lodging for cancer patients will not help us. This
has left me responsible for air travel, lodging & insurance
co-pays out of pocket. I have three children and though I am a
paramedic, I have not been able to work since August 2012. I am
currently traveling to MD Anderson every other week for chemo and
trying to manage normal living expenses. The chemotherapy IS WORKING
and my main tumor has shrunk 82.2% since begining treatment 11/2013.
The funds that have been collected have been exhausted due to normal
bills and then those expenses for treatment and travel. The stress of
finances and my cancer was too much for my husband. He left me and
notified me that he wants a divorce. I am living off of only
disability which is $1000/month. I do not know what I am going to. I
have to continue the chemotherapy or I will not survive. I need to be
here for my children. I have never been one that finds asking for help
easy however have no choice. If you have the means to help at all it
would be a god send. You would truly have a hand at saving my life
and allowing my children to have their mother. I don't have the
appropriate words to thank you all enough for your prayers and
support.
Thanks & Blessings,
Dena
My Story