Help Courtney's Fight for Life

Hi, as most of you know Im Courtney Rutherford and I never thought I’d be here but i am…..Today 4/22/2024 my entire world has been turned upside down with the worst news anyone could imagine. The devastating phone call from my doctor. “Courtney you have colon cancer”! My heart shattered into pieces and I still cant wrap my mind around this all.

I have two beautiful daughters that need me and an amazing husband who’s very supportive. I will be doing Chemo & radiation as well as a large surgery to remove this mass inside me. Im a fighter and I will fight hard.

I am setting up this GoFundMe campaign to seek financial assistance in covering the expenses related to my colon cancer treatment and the time my husband will be missing work to be supporting me. The funds raised will go towards doctors consults, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, medications, and other necessary medical procedures. Your generous contribution will not only alleviate the financial burden but also provide me with peace of mind to focus on my recovery. Whether it’s a small donation or a larger contribution, your support will be deeply appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, prayers, and financial support. You will forever be cherished.

I will be posting updates and pictures as I navigate this next part of my life and as I kick cancers ass!!!

4/26/24

Update: The surgeon today confirmed that it is Colorectal Cancer. Colon and Rectal or so similar but so different. The plan is this: Start chemo and radiation for 5 weeks Chemo pill during radiation. That’s 5 days a week Then Chemo therapy after that with a port for 3 to 6 months 1 year ordeal Then they will check tumor and decide plan for surgery. Surgeon said that it is not possible to remove tumor due to where it’s growing and it would be high risk of it spreading. Apparently it’s pushing against a bone so they want to shrink it down and then re evaluate. #fuckyoucancer #strongerthancancer #CANCERASSKICKER

UPDATE:

I have 4 days left of Radiation and Chemo Pills. The pain I have now is off the charts. My tail bone feels like I’ve been hit with a baseball bat and everything just burns. In the last 4 days, they plan do do my normal radiation but will also be adding a “Radiation Boost” which basically is giving me a big extra dose that narrows in on the tumor to zap it.

My chest port is in and ready to go July 12th when my chemo infusions will start. I will do 8 rounds of this once every two weeks. I’m praying that the chemo and radiation will remove the cancer completely and no surgery will be needed. But I’m mentally ready for whatever I have to face and my positive outlook and faith in God will get me through this.

Update: 8/3/24

Update on Hospital stay: ❤️‍ (Gallbladder) Whew, it’s been a wild last few days here at the hospital as they try to navigate my complex issues going on. Surgeon just came in and went over my MRI results. Not good! He explained that I have stones hanging out in my “main duct” and they must come out. Since surgery is not an option right now due to me being on chemo he said they can try retrieve them by putting a scope down my throat into my stomach and get them out that way. As you can see in the picture he drew that they are in a very hard spot to get to. This explains why my liver enzymes are over 600 and normal range is 10-20 Gallbladder has to stay until my chemotherapy is done which is 10/18 then I can have that removed.  Fun Fact: Gallbladder issues is by far worse than childbirth.

Update: 8/18/24

18 days now in the hospital. While the doctors were doing the ERCP scope down my throat they accidentally went into my pancreas which caused me to get Pancreatitis. I have been in the absolute worst pain of my life. Still on liquid diet as my pancreas can’t tolerate solid foods quite yet. My gallbladder and the drain are doing ok and I’ll have the drain in until October and at that time chemo should be done and then I will have another surgery to remove my gallbladder. Chemo has been put on hold during my stay here as my body isn’t strong enough while I’m dealing with Pancreatitis. 

Update: 9/26/24

Im home and recovering still from my lengthy hospital stay with Pancreatitis. That was brutal but I got through that hurdle. Last Friday I finished my 5th Chemotherapy infusion which leaves me with 3 left to go. November 1st should be my last chemo if everything goes as planned. What comes next? We will wait 6 weeks and then they will re scan me and check to see what is left of the cancer if anything. I’m praying nothing and it’s GONE!!! If there’s any left I’ll have a section of my colon removed within 4 weeks of my scans and I’ll have a temporary ostomy bag and then they will resection it after a month or two.

Gallbladder will be coming out sometime in December. Until then, I have a bilary bag on me so I don’t go back and fourth to the ER in pain. This bag helps keep any stones flowing through. What a crazy ride this has been but I’m pushing through Thankful that I have an amazing husband that hasn’t left my side through this and was there with me every night in the 20 day hospital stay.

Update: on 10/11 I was admitted back into the hospital. I was at home feeling perfectly fine and then out of nowhere I started shaking really bad I mean my entire body would not stop shaking. I was getting the chills and took my temp and of course I have a fever. Told my husband we need to go to the ER as I knew something wasn’t right. After doing a CT scan they discovered that I have two small abscesses on my liver. They were talking about doing a procedure to drain them with putting a needle into my side but the surgeon said that it would be too risky due to their size so the plan is just to treat them with strong antibiotics. This is all due to the chemo effects on my body and my gallbladder not functioning properly.