Support Priscilla’s fight against Lymphoma

My 19-year-old granddaughter was accepted into college in the Fall of 2024. After earning a nursing degree, she wants to help people. She thrives and enjoys college life, playing soccer, attending classes, and making new friends. However, her journey has been met with traumatizing obstacles. Here is her story…

In 2023, Priscilla noticed a lump in her right breast. She went to the doctor, and after a series of routine tests, it was determined that the lump was not cancerous. The doctors advised Priscilla that with a healthier diet, the lump would dissolve. Priscilla graduated high school having played soccer all four years for South Grand Prairie High School. She signed with SWAU in Keene, Texas, during her senior year and completed high school.  Priscilla was prepared to go to college, things were going well.  Priscilla’s family was excited for the new adventure she was about to embark upon. The Summer prior to starting her first semester in college, Priscilla began practicing with her new soccer team.  Although she was young, healthy, and strong, she began having chest pains.  She felt fatigued and nauseated and could not eat.  She thought she was sick or maybe she was tired from the workouts.  These symptoms persisted on and off for approximately six months.  However, she forged forward, never complaining about the discomfort.  Her passion for college was driven by the excitement she saw in her father’s eyes as he helped her move into her dorm room.  She played intensely as her father watched her play college soccer and beamed with pride.  Then unexpectedly, Priscilla’s father passed away on 09 08 2024.  This devastated her, and she was out of school for two months.  She leaned heavily on family and friends as she mourned her father.  She fell behind in her studies but was given grace from SWAU.  Slowly, she reintegrated back into school and her studies to complete the journey she started.  However, her passion was driven by her father watching her play soccer. He would try to make her games no matter what times she played. He would sometimes take off during his lunch hour to watch her play and then return to work to make up any lost time. After his passing, Priscilla lost her desire to play soccer. Ultimately, Priscilla stepped down from playing soccer. But she knows the importance of education. Her passion shifted to her studies and being able to focus on helping others through the health profession. Something happened, however. Priscilla began feeling fatigued, not able to eat, and experiencing chest pains. She thought this was because she was still mourning the loss of her father. Something kept drawing her home. She was driving home from college 3-4 times a week. She wanted to sleep more and more in the comfort of her bed. The struggle to leave home to return to school often left her teary-eyed. But she forged on. Priscilla prepared for bed in her dorm room without suspecting anything other than feeling sadness and missing home. As she changed into her pajamas, she noticed a large, palm-sized lump between her collar bone and arm pit on her right side. She quickly texted home on Tuesday requesting an appointment be scheduled to have it examined. She returned home on Wednesday evening only to find another lump raised its ugly head on the left side of her neck. This lump was elongated and 1.5 inches in length. Then, on Thursday, another small lump appeared on the right side of her neck. The lumps appeared so quickly; her first appointment was on Friday morning. Whatever she was experiencing, it was aggressive. Trying to remain calm, she went to bed anticipating what the lumps represented.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, she walked into her primary care physician’s office. She informed the doctor of how quickly the lumps formed and her concern. After examining Priscilla, the doctor advised her that she immediately needed to go to the ER of the nearest hospital for evaluation. She was quickly seen, and an IV was applied for additional thorough testing. When the emergency doctor returned, she said, “I don’t have good news.” She said the preliminary results showed signs of lymphoma in 5 places. Priscilla had affected lymph nodes on her right side in 3 places, the left side of her neck, and down the center of her chest. When a doctor walks in, isn’t smiling, and hands you bad news, it takes a minute to process what was just said. You want to know what caused it and how I can get it out? Everything went fast and furious from there. The testing, medication, and sadness of hearing, “the treatment may cause infertility but you don’t have time to have an egg preservation procedure due to the lymphoma aggression” was devastating.  You’re constantly told there is a natural progression to life. You’re born, go to school & graduate, go to college & graduate, get a job, date, get married, and have children! She has done everything asked of her, and for this to be a significant obstacle, it’s just not right.

This is the abridged version of Priscilla’s story.  Through no fault of her own, this unfortunate illness has attached itself to her.  She will begin treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma which is a type of Cancer, in hopes she will be cured of it. The treatment will have adverse effects on her entire body, including her reproductive system.   So, she has decided to postpone the much-needed chemo treatment for two weeks to attempt to preserve her eggs for future use.  She will undergo a costly egg preservation surgery and would appreciate any monetary assistance she receives. We ask for your help in granting her wish to become a mother.

Thank you for your support on her journey.