Help Khrystyna Fight Cancer

Dear Friends,

Khrystyna is a 33-year-old, young mom, loving wife, and courageous human being. She

is now fighting for her life, but there is hope for her! Effective treatments do exist!

Please read more details about Khrystyna and her battle with cancer below.

It all started 5 years ago when Khrystyna began having pain and noticed a loss of

sensation in her left arm. After meeting with her family doctor and being evaluated by

numerous specialists, she endured tremendous pain and left arm surgery in 2020 which still did not cure this mysterious nerve pain and other debilitating symptoms in her left arm.

A Spinal MRI in March 2022 revealed that her symptoms stemmed from her spinal cord

and brain. She was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation I, a basilar invagination and a

syringomyelia which resulted in a very large fluid-filled cyst (or syrinx) compressing her

brain stem. With her condition deteriorating and the fear of paralysis sinking in,

Khrystyna and her family were excited to schedule the brain surgery to hopefully end

her suffering. Unfortunately, this June 2022 operation in Edmonton, didn’t resolve her

medical issues and worsened her condition.

However, what was supposed to be a 3–4-day hospital stay, became as her health

deteriorated, two agonizing months in the Royal Alex ICU and hospital and a second

month at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, followed by months of outpatient rehab.

Khrystyna needed to re-learn basic tasks such as breathing, swallowing, and walking.

As of roughly five months after that operation, Khrystyna still could not function the

same as before.

Further complicating her medical condition, an MRI on July 21, 2022 identified a large

skull-base brain tumour called a Chordoma, that was also contributing to her symptoms.

Unfortunately, the presence of an “lesion or cyst” had been noted on several previous

medical scans, but not identified. Chordomas are very rare malignant brain tumors,

found in only 1 in 1 million cases.

The Chordoma Foundation website, recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society, is

described as a scientific and patient powerhouse of information, compiled by

international chordoma experts to define a standard of care for treating chordoma

patients. The Chordoma Foundation and a google search of world-wide medical

facilities all agree and emphasize that because chordoma tumours are so rare,

dangerous and difficult to remove, that patients have the best chance for survival only if they have an experienced neurosurgeon with particular expertise and experience in

removing Chordomas.

Due to its rarity, very few medical teams have the opportunity to specialize in the

challenging, complicated surgeries required to remove the tumor. An experienced

neurosurgeon must remove the tumor correctly the first time. If some cells are left

behind during surgery, tumor mutations will grow and spread to the rest of the brain and spine. The mutations are much faster growing than the first tumor and are harder to detect on an MRI scan.

Her Edmonton doctors and the other doctors consulted all agreed that her case is

extremely complicated and difficult. It is a delicate balance between managing the

complications left by her June 2022 brain surgery, her unique physical makeup, basilar

invagination, and syringomyelia with the new diagnosis of chordoma. To resolve these

medical issues, Khrystyna requires 2 to 3 more surgeries to remove the chordoma,

followed by occipital-cervical spinal fusion (OSF). The OSF operation also requires an

expert spine surgeon who specializes in this surgery, with specialized equipment to

perform this delicate operation.

In October 2022 she learned that her deteriorating physical condition dictated that these surgeries were urgently required in the next few months, in order to avoid quadriplegia and possibly death.

We have tried, but we been unable to find, or even hear back from any similar Canadian facility who can offer the same expertise, and then perform these surgeries in a timely manner.

But WE HAVE HOPE! After much extensive and frantic research in Canada and the

U.S.A., we were ecstatic and confident in the opinions from two different teams of highly

specialized surgeons, who not only have the experience and expertise, but the proven

track record to perform these life saving surgeries with the best potential outcomes.

However, we were devastated when we found out that the cost of the procedures was

currently out of reach for our family. We are determined to raise the required funds in

any way that we can, and we are asking for any help.

Currently, we are unable to schedule the operations until we have paid the complete

costs upfront. The more time that passes, the more difficult the procedure becomes,

and the risk of paralysis or loss of life increases. Khrystyna has built a life around giving

and helping others – now is the time for us to show her our love and support.

Khrystyna on her 30th birthday, 3 years ago!

Khrystyna's pride and joy, her 1-year-old daughter Kate!

Khrystyna and her daughter Kate, in matching PJ's!

The team doing snow removal to raise funds for the GOFUNDME!