Help Dezzi fight rare form of bone cancer!
Donation protected
On July 28, 2022, my baby girl was diagnosed with Stage 3 Osteosarcoma High Grade. Even though Desiree "Dezzi" is 24 years old, she's still my baby. After being diagnosed, and to make matters worse, the only doctor in Arizona that could perform the Dezzi initial surgery was in Scottsdale. While I was relieved not to have to go out of state, it's been months of back-and-forth travel between Scottsdale and Banner Hospital in Tucson where she gets her Chemotherapy treatments. Dezzi is currently in her 4th round. Due to her young age, Dezzi underwent fertility preservation by having her eggs harvested and frozen. Dezzi will endure at least eight months of aggressive chemotherapy treatments, radiation, limb removal and reconstructive nerve surgery. Although some of these treatments are covered by her health insurance, I am still receiving bills for things that were not covered and expected to be very costly.
I'm not one to usually ask for help, but I am seriously stressing about how I am going to make it. I have had some assistance from Candlelighters, Cancer foundation, and Cancer Care and we are no longer able to receive assistance from them due to lack of funding. If you can assist with this unexpected financial hardship, any donations through go fund would be greatly appreciated. All funds raised will go directly to Desiree's medical costs, bills, and related travel expenses for treatment, outside of Tucson. Each stay is from 3- 5 days as Dezzi is not able to be in the car for extended amounts of time with excessive nausea and pain in her leg. I have used all my sick time with her extensive chemo stays in the hospital. I work in the educational system and will be out of work during the summer.
We understand that everyone is experiencing some form of hardship. If you cannot directly donate, please consider sharing as often as you can. On behalf of Desiree, her family, and her closest friends we appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers, and support that have been shown over the past few months and undoubtedly, in the months to come.
If you would like to read each chemo update and stay part of her journey, I have put together an update on each chemo treatment. I will continue to make updates periodically.
- Round 1 Chemotherapy: This was the beginning of our journey- My daughter left her career as a peer support specialist, left her home, parted ways with her fiancé and moved in with me. Dezzi’s dog “Cooper” had to go into foster care while she was undergoing treatment. Cooper saved Dezzi’s life when he tripped her which landed her in the ER and on the journey to discovering cancer in her fibula. During the first treatment, Dezzi had an underlying infection in her fibula and the stay in the hospital was for a month. This is the round Dezzi lost her hair in clumps and lost 10 pounds. Dezzi also had her first blood transfusion. This round was a reality check of what was to come. Dezzi’s hospital stays became my hospital stays, sleeping in a chair and waking up when she needed me. Also, I had to move into a bigger home to fit my daughter's needs with a separate bathroom for chemo recovery.
- Round 2 Chemotherapy: During her last scan cancer had spread to a nodule in her lung advancing this cancer to Stage 4. During this round, Dezzi shaved her head, experienced a loss of appetite, and became very depressed and vulnerable. Dezzi did not want to be left in the hospital by herself. I had to take time off work to be with her. She would withdraw, zone out and was not coherent. She was put on antidepressants. As a mom, I feared that Dezzi would try to hurt herself. She shared on many occasions that she no longer wanted to live anymore. In this round, she experienced low potassium and magnesium. [This must be closely monitored in the hospital because of side effects of the chemo affecting her kidney function, and heart.] Dezzi had more blood transfusions and rapid weight loss – dropped 10 pounds. Our stays in the hospital are from 5 to 7 days (3 weeks out of the month) The delayed clearing of methotrexate caused a delay in scans before surgery and was not able to meet with the surgeon before the surgery date.
- Round 3 Chemotherapy: Dezzi had throat sores which made it difficult to eat or drink anything and throwing up blood and dropping down 20 more pounds. Dezzi was at her weakest of 120 pounds and had surgery in Scottsdale on November 18 to remove the fibula. The doctor informed us 30 minutes before surgery that there was a possibility that Dezzi would have nerve damage. I was informed that cancer had attacked the nerve resulting in a permanent drop foot. This means Dezzi must wear a brace when she walks and sleeps. This has been another adjustment for us. Small everyday things are no longer small, like being able to shower and walk to the restroom unassisted. Also, adjusting to walking in an AFO. Dezzi’s shoe size has gone from a 6.5 to a size 8. She needs shoes to walk to support her ankle as well as enough room for the AFO. Post-op trips to Scottsdale to meet with surgeons every other week to follow care. Staples were removed on December 30 and fitted for AFO on December 31. Dezzi is now on Gabapentin 900 mg every 8 hours for nerve pain.
- Round 4 Chemotherapy: Dezzi met with a plastic surgeon and will be meeting with another surgeon for nerve reconstruction after she has completed chemotherapy and addressed cancer in her lung. Scans are due to be completed on January 31, 2023
Organizer
Alyssa Montoya
Organizer
Tucson, AZ