Because of everything going on I’ve gone back and forth about sharing my gofundme here with everyone. The truth is I am struggling. After my initial surgery in August for my thyroid removal and neck dissection more cancer was found on my follow up scans had returned to work first week in September but quickly had swelling and pain at my incision site. Out of work again by my birthday 9/11. The Pet Scan showed 23 cancerous tumors in my neck and small nodules in my neck and brain further testing hast been able to be done yet because of how sick I am. On 12/29 I got admitted at Dana Farber my doctors felt like they could get me healthy if I was admitted early as I needed continual outpatient blood transfusions and my labs haven’t been great. On 1/5 I had my cancer revision surgery whereas I said 23 tumors were removed. I had some swelling at the new incision site but the doctors believed it to be normal and discharged me home on tons of meds and follow up appointments. On 1/12 I was in the ER where I work as nurse. I don’t remember too much but I know I had to get an immediate cardiac catheter. On 1/13 despite great care I was still declining. The doctors decided I needed to go to Boston (Dana Farber) but needed LifeFlight due to the fact that I was quickly losing my airway. 1/13 Safely made it to the ICU. I wish I remembered what happened there but I don’t 1/15 Moved to the oncology floor where I received amazing care. By 1/17 I had the drains in my neck removed and was discharged doctors believed with my medication and dialysis the swelling in my neck would improve. 1/23 I had my follow up appointment with my doctors they stated all that’s left to try to relieve the swelling was physical therapy and at my next appointment we would discuss and hopefully start radiation as I still have cancerous tumors in my neck and they hope treatment will shrink/treat the nodules/tumors in my brain and lungs. Present day is very difficult for me to talk about. I am dependent on portable oxygen almost 24/7. The swelling in my neck has gone down but is still present and painful. It’s been hard to breathe, lots of days I cough up blood. I need help with basic ADLS (activities of daily living) dressing, showering, making food, driving etc. This means I’m not back at work yet. I love what I do. I worked very hard to become a nurse. It gives me purpose. Not being able to work has affected me drastically mentally. Isolating has also affected my mental health. People reach out but I feel too uncomfortable with my appearance and health status to see anyone. I used to be able to drive myself to dialysis Mon, Wed, Fri but now I have to rely on family to help me. I’m 5’9 and currently 135. I’ve lost 20 lbs from treatment and stress. I was someone who cared about their appearance and made sure I was doing my best to take care of myself. My inability to do that coupled with what I now see in the mirror breaks my heart every day. Aside from all this I am still fighting my lupus, I’ve had a flare during all of this that caused pluritis and pericarditis. I am still fighting with the new diagnosis of CHF and am on 3 medications for my heart. I also have dialysis 3 days a week and am currently not active on the transplant list due to my cancer being active. I know that was long. I just wanted to be very transparent about my life and health. I am struggling to pay my bills because I’ve exhausted my leave at work. Despite note wanting another go fund me (I’ve already needed to ask to help when the transplant I did have went septic and needed to be removed last year and the healing process wasn’t easy). If you are just able to share my link that’s all could hope for. If you’re able to donate I would be extremely grateful. 🤍 Thank you for reading. gofundme.com/f/support-tiff…
