Becca and Matt's Medical fund
Donation protected
On February 13, 2018 Rebecca had surgery on what we thought was just a mole/scar formation that had gotten irritated and needed to be removed. To be on the safe side, the dermatologist sent it to be biopsied after removing it.
Rebecca returned to work on February 19, 2018, which was also when we received the devastating news that it was cancer. It came back as the deadliest and rarest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Rebecca's form of it also went very deep, beyond just the skin. It was 20 mm deep (2cm which is close to an inch).
On March 9, 2018 Rebecca went in for what is called a wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy and kept off work.
On March 23, during a check of the wound for possible infection, we receive the news that the cancer was in at least one lymph node. At first we were told it didn't go outside of the lymph node, but when we read the biopsy report it said it came out of the lymph node through the capsule and into the surrounding tissue.
On March 27, 2018 the oncologist confirmed it was outside of the biopsied lymh node and still in the body. Pet scan and Brain MRI were ordered. Also, the doctor recommends that we remove the remaining lymph nodes in the right groin because they likely are cancerous or highly likely for the cancer to spread to them in the future. We also find out that immunotherapy will need to be started as soon as we can, but probably after surgery.
Also on March 27, 2018 Rebecca visited with the psychologist that specializes in cancer and trauma for the first time in order to start learning coping skills and to get mentally healthier to fight the cancer.
On March 29, 2018, Matt slips and falls while walking the dogs and tears a tendon 75% of the way through in the quad/knee area. Surgery will be needed to repair the knee. (New joke started "Couples that get stitches together stick together")
Expected total time off work: Becca 9-11 weeks; Matt 4-6 weeks
Total time remaining off work: Becca 6-8 weeks; Matt 4-6 Weeks
Current important upcoming dates:
03/31/2018 - Matt's surgery to repair knee and hopeful discharge from hospital
04/01/2018 - Easter (plans canceled due to injury)
04/02/2018 - Rebecca's head to toe skin exam with dermatologist to check for other cancerous lesions.
04/03/2018 - Rebecca's second psychology appointment to help with coping with cancer
04/03/2018 - Rebecca's PET Scan rescheduled to this date after sugar being 11 points too high on 03/30/2018
04/05/2018 - Rebecca's Brain MRI and Appointment with oncologist to find out results and lock into place treatments
04/13/2018 or 04/16/2018 - Rebecca's complete lymph node dissection (definitely planned for 04/16/2018 but they are attempting to move it up sooner if possible).
There are going to be many tests from here on out and we have already been informed that Rebecca will never be "cured". She may go into periods of NED, No Evidence of Disease. But this will be a lifelong battle with "the beast" as the melanoma survivor community calls it.
We will need help during this time especially if Rebecca should lose my job since she has not been there long enough to qualify for leave under the FMLA. Any information or financial help is appreciated in addition to all of the wonderful support family and friends have shown with helping with things like transportation, food, animal help, and even cleaning or errand running.
For now, we are setting the goal at $1,500 because that is about how much we have left of our out of pocket medical expenses for the year for Rebecca. We have already spent $3,000 just since January 1, 2018, yet we have only just started.
Prayers, healing energy, or whatever your faith believes in are also always welcome. Not just for us but for all of our loved ones, including dear friends who are sticking by our side and helping us along the way. I know it pains them to see this happen and not be able to do much to help.
Rebecca returned to work on February 19, 2018, which was also when we received the devastating news that it was cancer. It came back as the deadliest and rarest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Rebecca's form of it also went very deep, beyond just the skin. It was 20 mm deep (2cm which is close to an inch).
On March 9, 2018 Rebecca went in for what is called a wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy and kept off work.
On March 23, during a check of the wound for possible infection, we receive the news that the cancer was in at least one lymph node. At first we were told it didn't go outside of the lymph node, but when we read the biopsy report it said it came out of the lymph node through the capsule and into the surrounding tissue.
On March 27, 2018 the oncologist confirmed it was outside of the biopsied lymh node and still in the body. Pet scan and Brain MRI were ordered. Also, the doctor recommends that we remove the remaining lymph nodes in the right groin because they likely are cancerous or highly likely for the cancer to spread to them in the future. We also find out that immunotherapy will need to be started as soon as we can, but probably after surgery.
Also on March 27, 2018 Rebecca visited with the psychologist that specializes in cancer and trauma for the first time in order to start learning coping skills and to get mentally healthier to fight the cancer.
On March 29, 2018, Matt slips and falls while walking the dogs and tears a tendon 75% of the way through in the quad/knee area. Surgery will be needed to repair the knee. (New joke started "Couples that get stitches together stick together")
Expected total time off work: Becca 9-11 weeks; Matt 4-6 weeks
Total time remaining off work: Becca 6-8 weeks; Matt 4-6 Weeks
Current important upcoming dates:
03/31/2018 - Matt's surgery to repair knee and hopeful discharge from hospital
04/01/2018 - Easter (plans canceled due to injury)
04/02/2018 - Rebecca's head to toe skin exam with dermatologist to check for other cancerous lesions.
04/03/2018 - Rebecca's second psychology appointment to help with coping with cancer
04/03/2018 - Rebecca's PET Scan rescheduled to this date after sugar being 11 points too high on 03/30/2018
04/05/2018 - Rebecca's Brain MRI and Appointment with oncologist to find out results and lock into place treatments
04/13/2018 or 04/16/2018 - Rebecca's complete lymph node dissection (definitely planned for 04/16/2018 but they are attempting to move it up sooner if possible).
There are going to be many tests from here on out and we have already been informed that Rebecca will never be "cured". She may go into periods of NED, No Evidence of Disease. But this will be a lifelong battle with "the beast" as the melanoma survivor community calls it.
We will need help during this time especially if Rebecca should lose my job since she has not been there long enough to qualify for leave under the FMLA. Any information or financial help is appreciated in addition to all of the wonderful support family and friends have shown with helping with things like transportation, food, animal help, and even cleaning or errand running.
For now, we are setting the goal at $1,500 because that is about how much we have left of our out of pocket medical expenses for the year for Rebecca. We have already spent $3,000 just since January 1, 2018, yet we have only just started.
Prayers, healing energy, or whatever your faith believes in are also always welcome. Not just for us but for all of our loved ones, including dear friends who are sticking by our side and helping us along the way. I know it pains them to see this happen and not be able to do much to help.
Organizer
Rebecca Taylor
Organizer
Columbus, OH