Help the Akins' family
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In 2010, Aimee underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor in the back right side of her head. It was about the size of a nickel, and it was only one. The doctors prescribed radiation as a means of prevention for future happenings. Though she lost a lot of the feeling and movement on her lower left side and daily activities became a bit harder, she adjusted pretty well to the changes and we went on with life.
A couple of MRIs continued to show she was doing pretty well for a few years. Our family moved to Chico and I got a new job with a health insurance company, which prompted the need for new doctors. We found her a primary doctor who she gave her history to, was referred to a neurologist in the area and she had her first MRI in about a year and a half. This time, the tumor she had was back and had some extra growth in different directions. The doctor explained the type of tumors she had grew like spider webs, reaching out and affecting her strength and movements even more. He decided to start her on chemotherapy treatments and she has been on them for six months, and for the first time we heard the diagnosis 'brain cancer'. The chemo seemed to help...we thought she was improving. We didn't realize that her neurologist was needing to consult with UCSF because he isn't a neuro-oncologist, and didn't have much experience looking at MRIs like hers.
Now here we are, the first visit to UCSF under our belts, which we decided to schedule because we didn't want to play the go-between for the doctors here in Chico and in SF. We have been told there is strong reason to believe her cancer has changed to an aggressive glioblastoma type; one spot showing a growth more than doubling in size since April. She feels her strength depleting daily, she uses a walker to get around now because her cane isn't enough. On Tuesday, she will undergo a biopsy procedure that will allow the doctors to determine the new genetic makeup of her tumors, the grade of it (was a 2 and they are certain it is upgraded, but not sure whether it's a 3 or 4) and all of this will allow her to be eligible for clinical trials. Luckily, I have an awesome job that I was able to file an intermittent FMLA case so that I can leave as needed to take her where she needs to go, but I don't get paid, as my PTO was exhausted long ago. We have hit our out of pocket max for the year (YAY!) but that means there are $8000 in medical bills to be paid...trips to and from UCSF that aren't covered by insurance, lodging near the hospital when needed, and lest we forget the end of the year is coming. Which means a new out of pocket max to satisfy. Our family doesn't like to have to put this all out there, but we also know that every little bit helps. My back is against the wall to continue providing for my family with unplanned expenses and a household income cut by almost half.
Enter you: our family, friends, and friends of friends....we all like to donate to good causes because we like helping others and because it makes us feel good. I like to think that when I donate, if ever the need arose for our family to need help, it would be there for us as well. Any amount will help, and we would be eternally greatful. Please share this with your network as well, and thank you for reading this long story :)
A couple of MRIs continued to show she was doing pretty well for a few years. Our family moved to Chico and I got a new job with a health insurance company, which prompted the need for new doctors. We found her a primary doctor who she gave her history to, was referred to a neurologist in the area and she had her first MRI in about a year and a half. This time, the tumor she had was back and had some extra growth in different directions. The doctor explained the type of tumors she had grew like spider webs, reaching out and affecting her strength and movements even more. He decided to start her on chemotherapy treatments and she has been on them for six months, and for the first time we heard the diagnosis 'brain cancer'. The chemo seemed to help...we thought she was improving. We didn't realize that her neurologist was needing to consult with UCSF because he isn't a neuro-oncologist, and didn't have much experience looking at MRIs like hers.
Now here we are, the first visit to UCSF under our belts, which we decided to schedule because we didn't want to play the go-between for the doctors here in Chico and in SF. We have been told there is strong reason to believe her cancer has changed to an aggressive glioblastoma type; one spot showing a growth more than doubling in size since April. She feels her strength depleting daily, she uses a walker to get around now because her cane isn't enough. On Tuesday, she will undergo a biopsy procedure that will allow the doctors to determine the new genetic makeup of her tumors, the grade of it (was a 2 and they are certain it is upgraded, but not sure whether it's a 3 or 4) and all of this will allow her to be eligible for clinical trials. Luckily, I have an awesome job that I was able to file an intermittent FMLA case so that I can leave as needed to take her where she needs to go, but I don't get paid, as my PTO was exhausted long ago. We have hit our out of pocket max for the year (YAY!) but that means there are $8000 in medical bills to be paid...trips to and from UCSF that aren't covered by insurance, lodging near the hospital when needed, and lest we forget the end of the year is coming. Which means a new out of pocket max to satisfy. Our family doesn't like to have to put this all out there, but we also know that every little bit helps. My back is against the wall to continue providing for my family with unplanned expenses and a household income cut by almost half.
Enter you: our family, friends, and friends of friends....we all like to donate to good causes because we like helping others and because it makes us feel good. I like to think that when I donate, if ever the need arose for our family to need help, it would be there for us as well. Any amount will help, and we would be eternally greatful. Please share this with your network as well, and thank you for reading this long story :)
Organizer
Amber Williams Akins
Organizer
Chico, CA