Support Taylor’s Fight with Cervical Cancer
Donation protected
Taylor’s journey with cervical cancer goes back to over a year ago. What started with an abnormal pap and (what we now recognize as) symptoms were further complicated by delayed appointments due to COVID. After a colposcopy and follow up procedures, Taylor was scheduled for what seemed like a routine surgery to remove a growth that was thought to be precancerous.
A few days later, her doctor called and told her that they weren’t able to remove the entire tumor and that she had cervical cancer (endocervical adenocarcinoma). After processing the initial shock, Taylor views it as a resolution to the symptoms that she’s been experiencing. Like everything that T puts her energy into, she’s approaching this with positivity & an unstoppable force!
After a few follow-up appointments, Taylor was scheduled for an MRI and PET CT. Through this, we learned that her cancer hasn’t spread but that the tumor is large enough to require a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, which she will start in early March at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). The current treatment plan includes six weeks of chemotherapy and external radiation followed up by two weeks of internal radiation (brachytherapy).
Due to the amount of radiation she will receive, she will no longer be able to carry a child. This news has been the most difficult for Taylor to accept. T has been the “fun uncle” to everyone’s children for years and has dreamed about being a mother since I can remember. While their journey to grow their family will look different than they’d hoped, there is no doubt in anyone’s minds that Allen and Taylor will make incredible, loving, and FUN parents.
They are currently wrapping up their first round of IVF to harvest her eggs and freeze embryos with plans and hopes that a surrogate will help grow their family in the future. Unfortunately, their insurance doesn’t cover this and each round of IVF is $23,000 out of pocket. We’re hoping for one embryo and the teams at SCCA and Seattle Reproductive Medicine have approved two rounds to help make that happen. Looking to their future, a quick Google search shows the cost of a surrogate being upwards of $75,000-$130,000.
Cancer has and will continue to change many of Taylor’s life plans. Despite all of this, Taylor remains positive, strong, and of course sassy, sharing embarrassing stories from doctor’s visits or how she is literally tackling all of her biggest fears all at once.
Through procedures, appointments, tests, applying for grants, and managing cancer and IVF simultaneously has become her full-time job. And we know that the weeks and months ahead will come with many more tasks and challenges. The current and upcoming medical bills & financial burden are the tip of the iceberg. This is where we - as her family, friends, and community come in.
Your donations will assist with medical expenses, basic living expenses, and creating comfort during Taylor’s battle and recovery. Any amount raised over their goal will go towards making a future surrogate a possibility for them.
Please note that this fund was started with tremendous consideration, gratitude, and humility for what they are asking. Taylor and Allen are truly thankful for any amount offered.
COVID has put a unique spin on all of this & they’re not able to get the support that we would typically give through household help or rides to and from chemo and other appointments. If you would like to help in other ways, we have set up a website for organizing meals and other things they’ll need: https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/Q5X9B3W/support-taylor-s-fight-with-cervical-cancer#1612930734185
Lastly, as her sister… I’m unmeasurably thankful for the support that is offered to help T through this journey. Outside of being my sister, she is my best friend… and I know she goes by many titles and roles to you, too. Whether you know her personally or are connected to her through a friend or family, we have the unique opportunity to band together and support her in this time.
With an endless well of gratitude - thank you for your generosity, love, & support.
Brit
A few days later, her doctor called and told her that they weren’t able to remove the entire tumor and that she had cervical cancer (endocervical adenocarcinoma). After processing the initial shock, Taylor views it as a resolution to the symptoms that she’s been experiencing. Like everything that T puts her energy into, she’s approaching this with positivity & an unstoppable force!
After a few follow-up appointments, Taylor was scheduled for an MRI and PET CT. Through this, we learned that her cancer hasn’t spread but that the tumor is large enough to require a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, which she will start in early March at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). The current treatment plan includes six weeks of chemotherapy and external radiation followed up by two weeks of internal radiation (brachytherapy).
Due to the amount of radiation she will receive, she will no longer be able to carry a child. This news has been the most difficult for Taylor to accept. T has been the “fun uncle” to everyone’s children for years and has dreamed about being a mother since I can remember. While their journey to grow their family will look different than they’d hoped, there is no doubt in anyone’s minds that Allen and Taylor will make incredible, loving, and FUN parents.
They are currently wrapping up their first round of IVF to harvest her eggs and freeze embryos with plans and hopes that a surrogate will help grow their family in the future. Unfortunately, their insurance doesn’t cover this and each round of IVF is $23,000 out of pocket. We’re hoping for one embryo and the teams at SCCA and Seattle Reproductive Medicine have approved two rounds to help make that happen. Looking to their future, a quick Google search shows the cost of a surrogate being upwards of $75,000-$130,000.
Cancer has and will continue to change many of Taylor’s life plans. Despite all of this, Taylor remains positive, strong, and of course sassy, sharing embarrassing stories from doctor’s visits or how she is literally tackling all of her biggest fears all at once.
Through procedures, appointments, tests, applying for grants, and managing cancer and IVF simultaneously has become her full-time job. And we know that the weeks and months ahead will come with many more tasks and challenges. The current and upcoming medical bills & financial burden are the tip of the iceberg. This is where we - as her family, friends, and community come in.
Your donations will assist with medical expenses, basic living expenses, and creating comfort during Taylor’s battle and recovery. Any amount raised over their goal will go towards making a future surrogate a possibility for them.
Please note that this fund was started with tremendous consideration, gratitude, and humility for what they are asking. Taylor and Allen are truly thankful for any amount offered.
COVID has put a unique spin on all of this & they’re not able to get the support that we would typically give through household help or rides to and from chemo and other appointments. If you would like to help in other ways, we have set up a website for organizing meals and other things they’ll need: https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/Q5X9B3W/support-taylor-s-fight-with-cervical-cancer#1612930734185
Lastly, as her sister… I’m unmeasurably thankful for the support that is offered to help T through this journey. Outside of being my sister, she is my best friend… and I know she goes by many titles and roles to you, too. Whether you know her personally or are connected to her through a friend or family, we have the unique opportunity to band together and support her in this time.
With an endless well of gratitude - thank you for your generosity, love, & support.
Brit
Organizer and beneficiary
Brittany Thurlow
Organizer
Leavenworth, WA
Taylor Stedman
Beneficiary