Madeline Shirey's cancer fund.
Donation protected
What’s up with me? Grab a some popcorn and a seat. (If you are short on time, scroll to the bottom and I'll TLDR it for you.)
Prior to the start of this grand adventure, our heroine(me) was an OTR(over the road)truck driver. I loved my life. Every day a new city. Every night a new sunset. Always a new adventure. Life was pretty good.
*ominous music plays*
On the evening of January 21st, 2020, my life derailed. After a long day of driving, I presented myself to the ER in a small town in Florida, with what I presumed to be gallstones, and jaundice(which I thought was related). That evening, they admitted me to the hospital, after a c-scan and an MRI and scheduled me for two procedures. The first was an ERCP with contrast, and the second was to be the surgical removal of my gallbladder, should I need it.
The next day, they wheeled me into the ERCP room, and put me under. When I awoke, I met the gastric doctor, who informed me that they had successfully cleared stones from my ducts, including a large one in my gallbladder... but while he was in there, they some some things that were “alarming”. Gallbladder surgery was postponed until “more testing” was done. I was then directed to “sit tight” and they had some specialists coming to speak with me.
Two days and a bout with pancreatitis later(holy crap... ouch!), I met three oncologists, who informed me that, “while they couldn’t be 100% sure until testing came back, they were confident I had pancreatic cancer”. This was a shock, but they explained treatment options and things, and that it was very survivable. I was naturally scared out of my mind, but yeah. At least it wasn’t gonna kill me.
Two weeks and an exhausting experience later, I had to transfer to a new hospital, because the tests I needed to confirm my cancer diagnosis conclusively, weren’t available there. My sister came down and got me, and together me made the trip back to Tennessee.
Some stupidity followed, as it always does, but eventually I got in to see the gastric doctor at Erlanger. They performed an “ERCP with spyscope” on me, and upon waking, told me I did not in fact have cancer of the pancreas, but rather the bile duct. A much rarer, and much more complicated to treat cancer, but fixable with surgery. Thing was, he couldn’t confirm the diagnosis until pathology got back. He was absolutely certain that’s what was wrong though, and referred me to Vanderbilt in Knoxville to get a consult for the removal surgery.
Ok... at least we knew what was up now. Right? Wrong.
Turns out, when I got there, they scanned me and found... well they weren’t sure. He knew it was cancer, and he knew it wasn’t bile duct. He did however see some troubling things with my stomach. Without any fanfare, we went home defeated. I was scheduled for more invasive testing later that week.
This time, when I woke up from surgery... well they still didn’t know, but two days later I had a confirmed diagnosis. Finally. Stomach cancer. Hopefully we found it early and they could just do surgery...
Sugar test was done. Results came back. Stage 4. Not only did I have stomach cancer, but Mildred(yes I named her Mildred... I’m silly) had fully evolved and started branching out to other places. Namely my lyphnodes and my bones. (It's non operable, and the internet makes my chances seem pretty bleak. Google it if you like. Single digit survival rates are not something I like looking at. Point is, like her mama, Mildred doesn't do anything halfway.)
Treatment was planned. Aggressive chemotherapy. To start on my birthday, March 16th. Yes, it really took THAT long to finally figure out what was wrong and get me started on chemo. Thus began my cycle of suck(chemo treatments suuuuck), which I now share with y’all via my blog. I twist in a little humor when I can because it helps me cope to laugh at things, so feel free to laugh with me when applicable. If you have a bit, go have a read. (Sorry the posts are out of order to start. Imported what I could find from Facebook and they got all jumbled.)
** Now for the important bit. Those of you who skipped to the bottom... here you go.**
While the good news is, Ive secured housing and such for the foreseeable future, and I was approved for SS disability... It doesn't start paying until August 16th.
Yeah.
I have not had income to speak of since January 21st. Ive done pretty well so far, but my short term disability is gone, and Ive eaten up pretty much all of my savings at this point. Thankfully my job has let me stay on medical leave, and keep paying for my benefits, so health insurance is something I still have access too, that said, I still have my share of the premiums to pay.
After this billing cycle is finished, between everything, I'll be basically out of money outside of donations and little bits I can earn consulting for an hour here and there from my sick bed. I need help.
Ive got to make it until August 16th, and then Im "good", but I won't be able to do that without support from people like you. Thank you in advance for your help. You guys have been amazing, and I love you for it.
Please feel free to share this around.
Prior to the start of this grand adventure, our heroine(me) was an OTR(over the road)truck driver. I loved my life. Every day a new city. Every night a new sunset. Always a new adventure. Life was pretty good.
*ominous music plays*
On the evening of January 21st, 2020, my life derailed. After a long day of driving, I presented myself to the ER in a small town in Florida, with what I presumed to be gallstones, and jaundice(which I thought was related). That evening, they admitted me to the hospital, after a c-scan and an MRI and scheduled me for two procedures. The first was an ERCP with contrast, and the second was to be the surgical removal of my gallbladder, should I need it.
The next day, they wheeled me into the ERCP room, and put me under. When I awoke, I met the gastric doctor, who informed me that they had successfully cleared stones from my ducts, including a large one in my gallbladder... but while he was in there, they some some things that were “alarming”. Gallbladder surgery was postponed until “more testing” was done. I was then directed to “sit tight” and they had some specialists coming to speak with me.
Two days and a bout with pancreatitis later(holy crap... ouch!), I met three oncologists, who informed me that, “while they couldn’t be 100% sure until testing came back, they were confident I had pancreatic cancer”. This was a shock, but they explained treatment options and things, and that it was very survivable. I was naturally scared out of my mind, but yeah. At least it wasn’t gonna kill me.
Two weeks and an exhausting experience later, I had to transfer to a new hospital, because the tests I needed to confirm my cancer diagnosis conclusively, weren’t available there. My sister came down and got me, and together me made the trip back to Tennessee.
Some stupidity followed, as it always does, but eventually I got in to see the gastric doctor at Erlanger. They performed an “ERCP with spyscope” on me, and upon waking, told me I did not in fact have cancer of the pancreas, but rather the bile duct. A much rarer, and much more complicated to treat cancer, but fixable with surgery. Thing was, he couldn’t confirm the diagnosis until pathology got back. He was absolutely certain that’s what was wrong though, and referred me to Vanderbilt in Knoxville to get a consult for the removal surgery.
Ok... at least we knew what was up now. Right? Wrong.
Turns out, when I got there, they scanned me and found... well they weren’t sure. He knew it was cancer, and he knew it wasn’t bile duct. He did however see some troubling things with my stomach. Without any fanfare, we went home defeated. I was scheduled for more invasive testing later that week.
This time, when I woke up from surgery... well they still didn’t know, but two days later I had a confirmed diagnosis. Finally. Stomach cancer. Hopefully we found it early and they could just do surgery...
Sugar test was done. Results came back. Stage 4. Not only did I have stomach cancer, but Mildred(yes I named her Mildred... I’m silly) had fully evolved and started branching out to other places. Namely my lyphnodes and my bones. (It's non operable, and the internet makes my chances seem pretty bleak. Google it if you like. Single digit survival rates are not something I like looking at. Point is, like her mama, Mildred doesn't do anything halfway.)
Treatment was planned. Aggressive chemotherapy. To start on my birthday, March 16th. Yes, it really took THAT long to finally figure out what was wrong and get me started on chemo. Thus began my cycle of suck(chemo treatments suuuuck), which I now share with y’all via my blog. I twist in a little humor when I can because it helps me cope to laugh at things, so feel free to laugh with me when applicable. If you have a bit, go have a read. (Sorry the posts are out of order to start. Imported what I could find from Facebook and they got all jumbled.)
** Now for the important bit. Those of you who skipped to the bottom... here you go.**
While the good news is, Ive secured housing and such for the foreseeable future, and I was approved for SS disability... It doesn't start paying until August 16th.
Yeah.
I have not had income to speak of since January 21st. Ive done pretty well so far, but my short term disability is gone, and Ive eaten up pretty much all of my savings at this point. Thankfully my job has let me stay on medical leave, and keep paying for my benefits, so health insurance is something I still have access too, that said, I still have my share of the premiums to pay.
After this billing cycle is finished, between everything, I'll be basically out of money outside of donations and little bits I can earn consulting for an hour here and there from my sick bed. I need help.
Ive got to make it until August 16th, and then Im "good", but I won't be able to do that without support from people like you. Thank you in advance for your help. You guys have been amazing, and I love you for it.
Please feel free to share this around.
Organizer
Madeline Shirey
Organizer
Chattanooga, TN