A New Hope
Donation protected
We are starting this account for our amazing, beautiful, strong and kind hearted friend Alanna Mendivil who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer this year, ****** we are inspired by her and her family’s struggle battling this terrible disease…
Family Background:
In June of 2013 Alanna’s older sister (26 years old) Vanessa was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Vanessa being so young doctors decided to do genetic testing and found that she was positive for the BRCA 1 mutation. As a result of the discovery the rest of her family got tested. Alanna also tested positive for the BRCA 1 mutation. Vanessa finished her chemotherapy treatments, had a double mastectomy and has been in remission the past 1 ½ years!
Alanna’s mother Kat, who previously battled breast cancer, had been in remission until 2014 when it was discovered that stage 4 cancer had metastasized in her spine. She was immediately rushed to Stanford to undergo surgery, after her recovery and rehabilitation she began chemo and radiation. This was a hard blow to the whole family.
Alanna’s Diagnosis:
While all of this was going on Alanna’s boyfriend Troy had been shopping for engagement rings. Troy and Alanna were “that couple”. They’re sickeningly cute, extremely supportive of one another, and we swear they can read each other’s minds. They take pictures in every photo booth they see and love to find cool new places to explore. On December 20th 2014 Alanna’s parents took her to Point San Luis in Avila Beach were Troy proposed to her on top of the lighthouse. She said yes and they set their wedding date for September 12th 2015.
As part of Alanna’s preventive plan, she was ordered to have MRI’s and mammograms every six months. She went in for her first MRI in February 2015, just after her 27th birthday, when they discovered two masses in her right breast. After an ultrasound and a biopsy was performed they confirmed it was cancer. Upon speaking to her oncologist Troy and Alanna realized that she would just be finishing chemotherapy when they planned to get married. The news was devastating to both their families. After a lot of thought and some encouragement from their parents they decided to get married before she started her treatment. At the same time, as another precaution, they began the process of IVF. On April 10th 2015 (their 4 year anniversary) Troy and Alanna got hitched. It was just a small ceremony in Santa Barbara with close friends and family. Two days after the wedding Alanna went in to surgery for egg retrieval and was able to make 6 healthy embryos with Troy. Only two days after that she began chemotherapy.
While Alanna battle was just beginning, her mother’s battle was taking a turn for the worst. The cancer that metastasized in Kat’s spine had spread to her neck and collarbone. A week after the wedding Alanna’s father had to rush her to the hospital when he found her unresponsive. It turned out that Kat was suffering from pneumonitis. It was a struggle for the family have both mother and daughter going through chemotherapy at the same time, especially while living in different cities. Alanna lived in Huntington Beach with Troy along with her oldest sister Kara, both would help Alanna to her doctor appointments and chemo sessions. Alanna’s parents and sister, Vanessa, lived up in San Luis Obispo where her mom was receiving treatment there and up in Stanford. Alanna would get up to see her mom any chance she got between treatments. Kat was a fighter and refused to give up. Even through all the trips to the hospital and the pain, Kat never doubted continuing the fight. Finally on September 4th 2015 Kat didn’t need to fight anymore. She passed peacefully with her family by her side.
The loss of her mother was crushing for Alanna and her family, but she forged ahead with her treatment. She knew that is what her mother would want, and on October 13th 2015 Alanna knew that her mother would be watching over her as she underwent her double mastectomy. Today she is recovering from her surgery and preparing for reconstructive surgery.
How you can help:
Cancer has affected her life in so many ways. Instead of enjoying being newlyweds, Alanna and her husband were at doctor appointments and chemo sessions. The biggest was losing her mother to it. In the face of adversity Alanna has stayed incredibly strong and upbeat. While undergoing treatment Alanna has been unable to work, and while she is fortunate enough to have good health insurance treatment isn’t cheap. Along with the cost of daily living, car payments, and school loans the medical bills are still adding up. She would never ask herself but has begrudgingly let us ask for help. Any amount that you can donate or love you can send her way will be amazingly helpful. Even just posting this page for everyone you know to see will help. We want her to focus on getting better and not on her bills.
Family Background:
In June of 2013 Alanna’s older sister (26 years old) Vanessa was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Vanessa being so young doctors decided to do genetic testing and found that she was positive for the BRCA 1 mutation. As a result of the discovery the rest of her family got tested. Alanna also tested positive for the BRCA 1 mutation. Vanessa finished her chemotherapy treatments, had a double mastectomy and has been in remission the past 1 ½ years!
Alanna’s mother Kat, who previously battled breast cancer, had been in remission until 2014 when it was discovered that stage 4 cancer had metastasized in her spine. She was immediately rushed to Stanford to undergo surgery, after her recovery and rehabilitation she began chemo and radiation. This was a hard blow to the whole family.
Alanna’s Diagnosis:
While all of this was going on Alanna’s boyfriend Troy had been shopping for engagement rings. Troy and Alanna were “that couple”. They’re sickeningly cute, extremely supportive of one another, and we swear they can read each other’s minds. They take pictures in every photo booth they see and love to find cool new places to explore. On December 20th 2014 Alanna’s parents took her to Point San Luis in Avila Beach were Troy proposed to her on top of the lighthouse. She said yes and they set their wedding date for September 12th 2015.
As part of Alanna’s preventive plan, she was ordered to have MRI’s and mammograms every six months. She went in for her first MRI in February 2015, just after her 27th birthday, when they discovered two masses in her right breast. After an ultrasound and a biopsy was performed they confirmed it was cancer. Upon speaking to her oncologist Troy and Alanna realized that she would just be finishing chemotherapy when they planned to get married. The news was devastating to both their families. After a lot of thought and some encouragement from their parents they decided to get married before she started her treatment. At the same time, as another precaution, they began the process of IVF. On April 10th 2015 (their 4 year anniversary) Troy and Alanna got hitched. It was just a small ceremony in Santa Barbara with close friends and family. Two days after the wedding Alanna went in to surgery for egg retrieval and was able to make 6 healthy embryos with Troy. Only two days after that she began chemotherapy.
While Alanna battle was just beginning, her mother’s battle was taking a turn for the worst. The cancer that metastasized in Kat’s spine had spread to her neck and collarbone. A week after the wedding Alanna’s father had to rush her to the hospital when he found her unresponsive. It turned out that Kat was suffering from pneumonitis. It was a struggle for the family have both mother and daughter going through chemotherapy at the same time, especially while living in different cities. Alanna lived in Huntington Beach with Troy along with her oldest sister Kara, both would help Alanna to her doctor appointments and chemo sessions. Alanna’s parents and sister, Vanessa, lived up in San Luis Obispo where her mom was receiving treatment there and up in Stanford. Alanna would get up to see her mom any chance she got between treatments. Kat was a fighter and refused to give up. Even through all the trips to the hospital and the pain, Kat never doubted continuing the fight. Finally on September 4th 2015 Kat didn’t need to fight anymore. She passed peacefully with her family by her side.
The loss of her mother was crushing for Alanna and her family, but she forged ahead with her treatment. She knew that is what her mother would want, and on October 13th 2015 Alanna knew that her mother would be watching over her as she underwent her double mastectomy. Today she is recovering from her surgery and preparing for reconstructive surgery.
How you can help:
Cancer has affected her life in so many ways. Instead of enjoying being newlyweds, Alanna and her husband were at doctor appointments and chemo sessions. The biggest was losing her mother to it. In the face of adversity Alanna has stayed incredibly strong and upbeat. While undergoing treatment Alanna has been unable to work, and while she is fortunate enough to have good health insurance treatment isn’t cheap. Along with the cost of daily living, car payments, and school loans the medical bills are still adding up. She would never ask herself but has begrudgingly let us ask for help. Any amount that you can donate or love you can send her way will be amazingly helpful. Even just posting this page for everyone you know to see will help. We want her to focus on getting better and not on her bills.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jordan Mellin
Organizer
Costa Mesa, CA
Troy Goss
Beneficiary