Help Danielle defeat cancer and become a momma!

Cancer. The dreaded diagnosis that you never expect to hear coming from your doctor's mouth. On January 13, 2022, my sister, Danielle, went in for a biopsy on a suspicious lump in her breast. The next day, her biggest fear was confirmed. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. After a week of doctor's appointments and more scans, everything was confirmed. Our family immediately joined together--like a scene from the Avengers--ready to fight this monster head on, by Danielle's side. As I am writing this on February 13, we are one month in, 2 biopsies (2nd biopsy-benign!), 2 MRIs, 3 CTs, lots of bloodwork, and over a dozen doctor appointments. Through all of this, Danielle has learned that she has a genetic mutation (BRCA2) that makes her more susceptible to melanoma, breast, ovarian (hysterectomy recommended ASAP), and pancreatic cancers. Thankfully, at this time, her scans are clear of all but breast cancer and she is going to be monitored closely on a yearly basis for the other cancers.

Danielle's specific cancer will require chemo (5 months beginning in mid March), followed by a double mastectomy and reconstruction, then at least 10 years of hormone therapy. Chemotherapy is aggressive and will significantly weaken her immune system. What many people do not know, chemo can lead to infertility. Danielle is 34 years young and deeply desires to be a mother through bearing her own child/children. In order to make her dreams come true, she will have to undergo a fertility procedure to harvest and freeze her eggs. Unfortunately, this procedure costs over $11k and is not considered medically necessary by most insurance agencies due to the fact that she is not infertile right now.

Danielle has spent the last few years traveling America as a Radiation Therapist, helping to heal cancer in patients from Alaska to South Carolina. She recently settled back home in Tulsa, taking a full time Radiation Therapist position at OCSRI. Due to not being a full time employee for the required period, FMLA is not accessible for Danielle. Cancer diagnosis, treatment, fertility, surgery, and care requires patients to take hours and weeks off of work. While the amazing staff at OCSRI have rallied together and gifted Danielle over 40 hours of their own PTO, that time will be used up quickly before she is able to undergo her mastectomy/reconstruction surgery. The financial burden is piling up all while her ability to work is slowing down.

If you feel the urge to donate a small amount to help Danielle with the expenses related to her cancer treatment and egg harvesting, she (and her family) would forever be grateful! The most important thing Danielle asks for is prayer. Prayer for peace in her mind/spirit, prayer for wisdom and guidance to the doctors, and prayer for complete and total healing!