Kiana's Leukemia Fund
Donation protected
I was waiting to go to my hematologist appointment when I saw that patients with leukemia should wear a mask around the facilities, so I put one on.
My mom laughed and told me that I looked like a drawing of mine, and so I tried immitating it (even though I apparently didn't remember what it looked like at all).
~Nailed it!
It's moments like these that I really keep near and dear to my heart while I fight cancer - for the second time. And while although the diagnoses were not easy to take in, I'm just very thankful that we found them when we did.
The first time I was diagnosed with cancer was when I was 16. I was at a soccer physical when my mom asked the doctor, "Is that a lump in her neck?"
That lump was my thyroid, enlarged with thyroid cancer. I had to have my whole thyroid and some lymph nodes removed, followed by radiation treatment months later.
Even then, I was looking to little things to keep me going, like getting a Frosty from Wendy's post-surgery. (Then again, I'm always happy to get ice cream.)
But sometimes, the little things aren't enough. I know that my parents really struggled with money after I was in the hospital. Things were getting better, until one of my doctors called me with the result of a blood test on Tuesday, March 21. I sent the test results to my endocronologist who treats me for my thyroid cancer, and he told me to come to the OSU emergency room ASAP.
I was told that it looked like I had chronic myeloid leukemia later that day (the diagnosis was confirmed later in the week on Friday). It was hard to see my parents hear such news yet again, and seeing my amazing boyfriend cry, as I never saw him tear up once since we've started dating.
Keep doing my best to look at the positives, along with my family. Like, the night after I went to the emergency room, the sunrise was beautiful! (Photo creds to Mom!) I knew that I was going to be okay. After all, they caught it early, so I don't have to have surgery or chemo, just a targeted treatment pill. And I have an amazing support team backing me up, so I know that even when it's hard, I have people to help me.
I didn't ask for financial help last time I went through cancer treatment, but now I am. I have two medications that I have to take for the rest of my life now. I'm having a difficult time adjusting to my new medication as of right now. My parents have to drive more than an hour away for appointments every three months for blood tests and doctor's visits.
The money from this fundraiser will be used towards travel expenses to-and-fro the James Cancer Hospital, medical bills, and medication. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much for reading my story. My family and I really appreciate it!
With love,
Kiana <3
P.S. For a quick summary of what my cancers are, I put together this little summary page with info from the OSU Medical Center, the LLS, and the American Cancer Society.
The first cancer I was diagnosed with and treated for was papillary thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the cells of the thyroid gland — a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the windpipe.The thyroid is an important component of the endocrine system — producing important hormones for the body that control key regulatory processes such as heart rate, temperature (which is why I get cold very easily) and metabolism. It also helps control the amount of calcium in the blood, which is a key mineral required for proper functioning of nerves and muscles.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of thyroid cancer in the United States. This is a slow growing cancer. When it is diagnosed early, most patients with papillary thyroid cancer can be cured. For me, my cancer was indeed slow growing, but it did spread from my thyroid and went into some of my lymph nodes in my neck. I’ve been treated for my thyroid cancer and am currently in remission, not quite free of disease yet.
My second cancer is chronic myeloid leukemia, commonly referred to as CML. CML is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. The DNA (genetic material) of a developing stem cell (which form blood cells) in the bone marrow is damaged. This is called an “acquired mutation.” This damaged cell becomes a leukemic cell and multiplies into many CML cells. The CML cells grow and survive better than normal cells. As a result, the number of healthy blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) is usually lower than normal. The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood. In time, the cells can also settle in other parts of the body, including the spleen. CML is a fairly slow growing leukemia, but it can also change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that is hard to treat.
The treatment pills that I’m taking targets the CML cells so that the the healthy cells can grow and function fine, as well as preventing them from building up anywhere. It also prevents the CML from turning into an acute form, which could be life-threatening.
My mom laughed and told me that I looked like a drawing of mine, and so I tried immitating it (even though I apparently didn't remember what it looked like at all).~Nailed it!
It's moments like these that I really keep near and dear to my heart while I fight cancer - for the second time. And while although the diagnoses were not easy to take in, I'm just very thankful that we found them when we did.
The first time I was diagnosed with cancer was when I was 16. I was at a soccer physical when my mom asked the doctor, "Is that a lump in her neck?"
That lump was my thyroid, enlarged with thyroid cancer. I had to have my whole thyroid and some lymph nodes removed, followed by radiation treatment months later.
Even then, I was looking to little things to keep me going, like getting a Frosty from Wendy's post-surgery. (Then again, I'm always happy to get ice cream.)
But sometimes, the little things aren't enough. I know that my parents really struggled with money after I was in the hospital. Things were getting better, until one of my doctors called me with the result of a blood test on Tuesday, March 21. I sent the test results to my endocronologist who treats me for my thyroid cancer, and he told me to come to the OSU emergency room ASAP.
I was told that it looked like I had chronic myeloid leukemia later that day (the diagnosis was confirmed later in the week on Friday). It was hard to see my parents hear such news yet again, and seeing my amazing boyfriend cry, as I never saw him tear up once since we've started dating.
Keep doing my best to look at the positives, along with my family. Like, the night after I went to the emergency room, the sunrise was beautiful! (Photo creds to Mom!) I knew that I was going to be okay. After all, they caught it early, so I don't have to have surgery or chemo, just a targeted treatment pill. And I have an amazing support team backing me up, so I know that even when it's hard, I have people to help me.
I didn't ask for financial help last time I went through cancer treatment, but now I am. I have two medications that I have to take for the rest of my life now. I'm having a difficult time adjusting to my new medication as of right now. My parents have to drive more than an hour away for appointments every three months for blood tests and doctor's visits.
The money from this fundraiser will be used towards travel expenses to-and-fro the James Cancer Hospital, medical bills, and medication. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you so much for reading my story. My family and I really appreciate it!
With love,
Kiana <3
P.S. For a quick summary of what my cancers are, I put together this little summary page with info from the OSU Medical Center, the LLS, and the American Cancer Society.
The first cancer I was diagnosed with and treated for was papillary thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer is a disease that begins in the cells of the thyroid gland — a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the windpipe.The thyroid is an important component of the endocrine system — producing important hormones for the body that control key regulatory processes such as heart rate, temperature (which is why I get cold very easily) and metabolism. It also helps control the amount of calcium in the blood, which is a key mineral required for proper functioning of nerves and muscles.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of thyroid cancer in the United States. This is a slow growing cancer. When it is diagnosed early, most patients with papillary thyroid cancer can be cured. For me, my cancer was indeed slow growing, but it did spread from my thyroid and went into some of my lymph nodes in my neck. I’ve been treated for my thyroid cancer and am currently in remission, not quite free of disease yet.
My second cancer is chronic myeloid leukemia, commonly referred to as CML. CML is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. The DNA (genetic material) of a developing stem cell (which form blood cells) in the bone marrow is damaged. This is called an “acquired mutation.” This damaged cell becomes a leukemic cell and multiplies into many CML cells. The CML cells grow and survive better than normal cells. As a result, the number of healthy blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) is usually lower than normal. The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood. In time, the cells can also settle in other parts of the body, including the spleen. CML is a fairly slow growing leukemia, but it can also change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that is hard to treat.
The treatment pills that I’m taking targets the CML cells so that the the healthy cells can grow and function fine, as well as preventing them from building up anywhere. It also prevents the CML from turning into an acute form, which could be life-threatening.
Organizer
Kiana Ziegler
Organizer
Ashland, OH