Vicky’s Fight

We are seeking support for the cancer treatment of our dear mom, Vicky Dawson-Koch. Unfortunately in May 2019 her most recent scans showed there are now spots on her liver. This means that chemo is no longer an option as it will be ineffective. My mom's rare cancer is not funded or studied enough. There are no other types of chemo for her to try right now. She has done everything possible to bring us to this point. Now, moving forward, the doctors are recommending trial drugs that have never been tested on humans, or immunotherapy. The government will not cover the costs for either of these treatments. If her DNA is a match for the immunotherapy she will be starting that right away. She will have a MINIMUM of 3 treatments at $6,000.00 each. This does not include all the personal expenses involved in receiving such treatment (gas, hotels, meals, parking, missing work, etc.). After the three initial treatments they would reevaluate to see if they are working. If so, that would likely lead to more treatments in the future. This treatment could save her life. We are hoping, through the generosity of others like you, to take some of the financial burden off my Mom so she can focus on herself, and her health, during this time. It all started in 2008 when she was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer. From there she went through many surgeries and was told she was “cured”. She was told she would never have to worry again. For years she went on raising three kids without any doubt that she was going to be there for all of our big life moments. Birthdays, Christmas, graduations, first jobs, weddings, babies and everything in between. She always made sure there was plenty of food for family dinners, and leftovers for lunches the next day. We never went without life essentials including “clean clothes” says my brother. When our parents separated shortly after she was first diagnosed she was always our rock. She was always doing everything she could do make ends meet. It has always been just the four of us. She is the most kind, generous, beautiful human you will ever meet. Ask any of her friends or family that love her and they will say the same. Until December 2016 we lived a beautifully happy life with her, and our step dad, Dave. That's when our world was once again turned upside down. She was diagnosed with stage 2 vaginal cancer. We lived in fear of the unknown but as always, she rallied up all her courage and was ready to fight this as well. She went through chemo and radiation until February 14, 2017. Endless trips to London for her doctors appointments had become part of our normal life. After she was done that round of treatments she married her best friend, Dave. That April we had a small courthouse ceremony with our closest friends and family. We celebrated the beautiful love they have for each other in sickness and in health, with a big beach reception to follow that September. The amount of love the 5 of us share can never be broken or taken away from us no matter the circumstances. Our lives seemed once again like everything was perfect. Hannah graduated high school, Alex got his first big job in the plants and I had opened Lemon Beauty Bar. Everything was great until September 2018. I can remember this day like it was yesterday. My mom was having severe back pain, and she is never one to complain, so away we went to emerge. They did X rays and exams only to have no answers and to be sent home. Later that night she got a call telling her to come back right away. We had no idea she had gone back. When we got the call from Dave telling us we needed an emergency family meeting our hearts dropped. Through all our tears and devastation she told us her cancer had returned and it is now metastatic. It is now in her bones, lungs and lymph nodes. We went to her specialists in London while trying to process everything that was happening. Her doctors there were absolutely shocked and devastated at the news as it is very rare that cervical cancer metastasizes in this way. With that being said, once again, she was ready to fight – no matter the case. They said that she would never be cured but they would hopefully be able to get her into remission. Her case is so rare, and her type of cancer specifically is so under funded, they gave it 30 to 40 percent chance of slowing down. She went through 8 rounds of chemotherapy that nearly killed her. Once every three weeks she was knocked on her butt only to get back up and do it again. We were very grateful that after that her bones were cleared and the cancer in her lymph nodes and lungs had stabilized. She was once again living her new “normal” life. The loss of her beautiful blonde hair and feeling in her feet were the easy part if that meant she gets to stay here with us. That leaves us where we are today. Our other new normal, the recent news from May 2019 and the reason for this page. Every little bit counts, and if you can't donate please take this to heart when I say it could be any one of us fighting this silent killer.