Amara vs. Breast Cancer 2.0

We recently received news that I’ve had a recurrence of breast cancer, this time in my skeleton. I was feeling slow and stiff with worsening pain impacting my daily function when a nuclear bone scan indicated numerous metastatic lesions. I fractured a rib putting on my pajamas.

Another batch of intense emotions accompanied this new development.

After soul searching and exploring second opinions and treatment options, I began a targeted treatment program in Arizona while my family remains in Virginia. Insurance does not cover this advanced integrative personalized medicine. Most weekdays I take 3-4 hours of infusions through my permacath. Every day I swallow 3 handfuls of medications and supplements, as well as doing other practices for 2-3 hours. Recovering my health and function has become my full-time job.

Since starting this treatment, I feel improvement. I no longer fall down crying from a sneeze, I can get up out of bed and put on my clothes without hurting myself, being active and caring for my patients feels possible, and the tumor markers are decreasing. The road remains difficult, but having measurable improvement feels amazing.

Spending the summer apart from the rest of the family is difficult for all of us. If you would like to connect further with us, please reach out directly to me or Jason. We do not have conversations about this spontaneously in public. If you see any of us out and about, please do not discuss anything related to my diagnosis with the kids. Our kids understand the challenge we face and they do not want to talk about it when they are out in the world being kids.

Many of you have reached out requesting to help alleviate our burden. We appreciate your determination to help us achieve deep and lasting healing. All donations are gratefully and lovingly accepted and will be used to help cover treatment costs, missed work, and travel expenses. The current goal represents roughly half the treatment costs.

Thanks to every one of you who donated to us, kept us in your prayers, and supported us in so many ways over the past few years. Your support has helped us through that difficult time and we truly are humbled to receive your generosity and love.