Breast Cancer Beast
"It will fundamentally change who we are and how we lead the rest of our lives - but it shall not defeat us. "
Basically...
My wife, Charlotte, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before her 33rd birthday. Within three weeks she had a mastectomy (removal) of her left breast. She started her chemotherapy June 4, 2015 and will be under a chemo treatment for about five months. Reconstruction will slowly be done throughout the chemotherapy and completed at the end of the therapy.
The Goal -
We hope to raise a total of $15,000. That will pay for our maximum $10,000 out of pocket cost for the insurance, and $5,000 to help counteract some of the lost wages from having to miss work.
The Whole Story -
Charlotte and I (George) were married April 1, 2014 in Las Vegas. A Vegas wedding on April Fool's day - we planned it that way, I swear. She has two wonderful daughters from a previous marriage, ages 10 and 12. In September she had her tubes untied (tubal ligation reversal) so that her and I could have a baby together. Almost a year after we were married, we purchased our first home here in Grand Junction, Colorado.
In mid April Charlotte discovered a lump on her left breast while in the shower. We allowed a few days to see if it were some kind of thing that would go away on its own. Since it did not dissipate, Charlotte went into the doctor and was referred to get a few scans, mammogram and x-ray. The scans could not definitively determine what it was, so she went in for a biopsy.
On April 22nd she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
On May 8th she had a mastectomy of the left breast, along with a tissue expander put into the area as the first step of the reconstruction.
The first round of chemotherapy was on June 4th. Her chemo will last approximately 5 months and consist of two stages - the first being a much more intensive mix of chemotherapy once every two weeks, and the second stage will be a lighter version once a week for 12 weeks.
Once the chemo is completed, the reconstruction can be completed. Her hormone therapy will also begin once the chemotherapy as concluded. This particular hormone therapy will basically block the estrogen receptors on the cancer cells so that they will not reproduce as aggressively.
She will need to continue on the hormone therapy for 5 to 10 years. Due to the increased odds of complications with becoming pregnant after 35, this basically means that we will no longer be able to have a baby together like we had originally planned.
We have a fantastic support system through family and friends; we simply could not ask for better. All we really need is some financial assistance in order to get us through this rough patch in our lives. She is an amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.
However, this whole event has turned our world upside down. It will fundamentally change who we are and how we lead the rest of our lives - but it shall not defeat us.
*UPDATE*
As of October 22nd, Charlotte is officially done with chemo!!! It seemed this time would never come, but she is done and all is well. Just one more obstacle - the reconstruction surgery on Dec. 3rd. With that she will be down for about a month, but after that we can put this awful mess behind us and move forward!!
*UPDATE*
On Dec. 3rd Charlotte had her big reconstruction! She went back at 7am and the whole procedure was done about 11am. In true Breast Cancer Beast fashion she was headed home about 2 hours after getting out of surgery. She is now resting comfortably at home in her favorite recliner.
Her recovery will take about a month. The first two weeks of which she will be rocking the T-Rex arms - she cant really raise her arms, so all of the arm motion is relegated to the elbow on down.
I'm sure she will be going stir crazy within 10 days.
*UPDATE 3/11/16*
Charlotte is all healed up and is once again taking the world by storm. Her hair is comming back nicely, even though she hates the color. This has been, by far, the craziest year of our lives - and we are happy to finally get back to normal.