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Diana's Battle with T-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

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Our Dad was taken way to soon from us on September 11th, 2011 after a short battle with aggressive lung cancer. Having to relive this nightmare has been extremely difficult, more than you can ever imagine.

On December 26th, 2016, our Mother, Diana Whitmore-Monaco, life changed in an instant. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Peripheral T-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Being a rare and aggressive cancer, her doctor did not waste anytime by starting her first High-Dose Chemotherapy treatment January 3rd, 2017. After a negative PET scan, Diana received the clear to have an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant where the patient’s own stem cells are used. Her "rebirth" day was July 11th, 2017.  It was a battle the next few months after the transplant, but she was a fighter! Soon after, she celebrated 14 months of remission (cancer free). 

Unfortunately in September 2018, after a routine PET scan, the most horrible news that anyone with cancer could hear was she had relapsed. The cancer had returned in a blink of an eye. Her doctor gave her an option to try a trial drug that had no side effects unlike Chemotherapy. After 3 rounds of treatment on this trial drug, the cancer began to shrink. Things started looking up and we became hopeful. She then continued the drug for another 2 rounds of treatment to find her body suddenly became resistant to the drug. Another PET scan showed her cancer was growing and this time it was worse then ever before.

The plan over the next couple months was to have 3 rounds of Chemo each lasting 3 days. As soon as she gets close to or in remission, then she will go right into a Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant, where donor cells are used.
On January 19th, 2020, a 23 year old girl from Germany generously donated her stem cells too Diana. This day was her second “rebirth” day. The journey to recovery here will be the hardest part of her cancer treatments. Slow and steady she was showing more and more progress everyday. The light at the end of the tunnel was shining brighter than ever.

UPDATED 08/02/2020 As of June 2020 she has been diagnosed with Kidney failure due to side effects from the transplant and medication. This has been extremely difficult to manage having to be on a strict controlled diet, which has led to substantial weight loss. She has started dialysis in late July in the hospital and it has slowly been showing progression.

On July 30th, Diana woke up in the morning and became confused and started being unresponsive. Not being able to sit up to eat or drink, not able to speak or move her body. She was immediately rushed to the hospital by ambulance to be admitted. While at the hospital, she has started to have seizures with a still unknown prognosis. She is still unresponsive and the immediate goal is finding the cause of these seizures and the right medication.

Prayers have never been needed more for Diana. Healing, strength, peace and comfort is what she needs. Thank you for prayers, donations, sharing the link, and so much more everyone has done to be there for us.♥️♥️♥️♥️
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  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Sarah Whitmore
Organizer
North Haven, CT

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