Team Samantha
Donation protected
Our daughter, Samantha, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in July 2015. The original plan was surgery to remove her cervix and then get on with her 26-year old life. Cancer had a different plan. It had spread to her lymph nodes, so the surgeon decided to not remove her cervix, but to instead prepare her body to begin to receive chemo and radiation by removing her fallopian tubes and moving her ovaries "out of the range" of the radiation. A week later Sam had her 27th birthday and another week later she began her first treatments; 5 weeks of Monday-Friday treatments and 3 weeks of 1x/week radiation for good measure.
She had a couple ER visits throughout this time and discovered that she has a partially obstructed bowel as a result of the radiation.
The cancer was not gone and Sam made the decision to participate in a clinical study group which consists of 4 chemo treatments every 3 weeks over the course of 12 weeks which she completed on February 1st. She ended up in the hospital that same day for a week with what we thought was gall bladder issues. Now 2 weeks later, she is back in the hospital awaiting gall bladder surgery, but delayed because of the partial bowel obstruction. At this writing, she has been in the Iowa City hospital again since February 15th and has not had food or liquids by mouth for 6 days while waiting for the bowels to hopefully heal by Monday, February 22nd. If they calm down, then gall bladder surgery. If they don't, then bowel surgery and gall bladder surgery.
The money raised here will be used for medical and other living expenses. Samantha has a long road ahead and, with the exception of 3 ER visits and a week-long stay at Genesis West, all treatments, appointments, and this current hospital stay and upcoming surgery have been at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Whether you're able to gift $5 or $500, it's greatly appreciated. Thank you doesn't seem to convey our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, friendship and support over these past months. Please know that you are appreciated and included in our prayers of thanksgiving.
She had a couple ER visits throughout this time and discovered that she has a partially obstructed bowel as a result of the radiation.
The cancer was not gone and Sam made the decision to participate in a clinical study group which consists of 4 chemo treatments every 3 weeks over the course of 12 weeks which she completed on February 1st. She ended up in the hospital that same day for a week with what we thought was gall bladder issues. Now 2 weeks later, she is back in the hospital awaiting gall bladder surgery, but delayed because of the partial bowel obstruction. At this writing, she has been in the Iowa City hospital again since February 15th and has not had food or liquids by mouth for 6 days while waiting for the bowels to hopefully heal by Monday, February 22nd. If they calm down, then gall bladder surgery. If they don't, then bowel surgery and gall bladder surgery.
The money raised here will be used for medical and other living expenses. Samantha has a long road ahead and, with the exception of 3 ER visits and a week-long stay at Genesis West, all treatments, appointments, and this current hospital stay and upcoming surgery have been at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Whether you're able to gift $5 or $500, it's greatly appreciated. Thank you doesn't seem to convey our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, friendship and support over these past months. Please know that you are appreciated and included in our prayers of thanksgiving.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chris Barber
Organizer
Davenport, IA
Samantha Barber
Beneficiary