Ariel’s journey to being cancer free!
Donation protected
As some of you know, I am battling stage 2 oral cancer. Surgery is November 9th to have most of my tongue removed and rebuilt as well and removal of quite a few lymphnodes. Recovery will be ugly. With 6 weeks of radiation, feeding tubes, pain, and shame to come. Cancer is unforgiving, and picks who it wants. I never imagined this would be my life 6 months ago.
A few details: my journey to recovery will include 7-14 days in the hospital with a nasal feeding tube, tracheotomy, and as my live transplant heals. They will be taking a piece of live tissue from my forearm to rebuild the 60-70% of my tongue that cancer has compromised. The cancer has jumped to my lymph-nodes as previously talked about, currently the pet scans are only showing on the right side, where my tumor is also. The doctors will unfortunately have to make cuts on both side of my neck to remove a minimum of 20 on each side. Then we will recover at home from the hospital for a few weeks. Following that, will be an immediate transition to a 5 day a week, six week, radiation schedule. This all will effect my breathing, eating, speaking, etc for a few months. This will make working extremely difficult. I am personally in a position, and work for a company that is taking such great care of me during this rough time. However, there will be thousands in medical bills, and I could end up having to take a hit in pay-which is not ideal for our current financial situation today. My boyfriend had to switch to working for himself and part-time to assist in my care. This was not a choice we wanted to, or we’re financially prepared to take-but we had to do what we had to do.
We are financially recovering from losing our dog, Pepper, who unfortunately passed away from lymphoma cancer this summer, just a few months prior to my diagnosis. Cancer is no stranger to our family…
We are also in the middle of trying to move. Our current lease is up in April, and this sudden change to plans (as we’d planned to stay well beyond that time line) is also throwing us through a loop financially.
I have a ten year old daughter that will require extra love and attention during this awful time too. Thank you to all that are supporting our family with helping out with her extra curricular a etc.
This is tough for my pride to create this go fund me, or ask for any help in life in general-but I need help right now. All the help I can get, and I appreciate anyone who even takes the time to read this post.
Thank you to all my family and friends who have been so supportive and helpful through this process of finding out and planning our next steps. The next six months will be extremely difficult for me and my family, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I am a fighter. This too shal pass… Here’s to beating cancer-can’t stop me
A few details: my journey to recovery will include 7-14 days in the hospital with a nasal feeding tube, tracheotomy, and as my live transplant heals. They will be taking a piece of live tissue from my forearm to rebuild the 60-70% of my tongue that cancer has compromised. The cancer has jumped to my lymph-nodes as previously talked about, currently the pet scans are only showing on the right side, where my tumor is also. The doctors will unfortunately have to make cuts on both side of my neck to remove a minimum of 20 on each side. Then we will recover at home from the hospital for a few weeks. Following that, will be an immediate transition to a 5 day a week, six week, radiation schedule. This all will effect my breathing, eating, speaking, etc for a few months. This will make working extremely difficult. I am personally in a position, and work for a company that is taking such great care of me during this rough time. However, there will be thousands in medical bills, and I could end up having to take a hit in pay-which is not ideal for our current financial situation today. My boyfriend had to switch to working for himself and part-time to assist in my care. This was not a choice we wanted to, or we’re financially prepared to take-but we had to do what we had to do.
We are financially recovering from losing our dog, Pepper, who unfortunately passed away from lymphoma cancer this summer, just a few months prior to my diagnosis. Cancer is no stranger to our family…
We are also in the middle of trying to move. Our current lease is up in April, and this sudden change to plans (as we’d planned to stay well beyond that time line) is also throwing us through a loop financially.
I have a ten year old daughter that will require extra love and attention during this awful time too. Thank you to all that are supporting our family with helping out with her extra curricular a etc.
This is tough for my pride to create this go fund me, or ask for any help in life in general-but I need help right now. All the help I can get, and I appreciate anyone who even takes the time to read this post.
Thank you to all my family and friends who have been so supportive and helpful through this process of finding out and planning our next steps. The next six months will be extremely difficult for me and my family, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I am a fighter. This too shal pass… Here’s to beating cancer-can’t stop me
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Ariel Neally
Organizer
Apple Valley, MN
Jordan Lallak
Team member