Kristi's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
My name is Vanessa(26) and I have a younger brother named Nathan(20). Our beautiful mothers name is Kristi. She is a hard working 45 year old single mom.
On December 21, 2016 my mom went to the Doctors to get a biopsy done on her liver. She was having pain prior to that appointment. Which I was there with her. The next day the Doctor called her and gave her some of the hardest news you could ever hear. She was told that she was diagnosed with Liver cancer. That same day she had told one of her supervisors at her place at her work that she had cancer.
On December 28, 2016 my mom decided to break the news to Nathan and I. Some of the hardest news to swallow. She waited to tell us because she didn't want to ruin our Christmas.
On January 1, 2017, her place of employment called her and told her that she would be suspened from work. When she asked why, the women said that she couldn't tell her and that she would have to wait for a phone call from the owner. Keep in mind, she never was able to speak to him. They requested her to come into work on the 4th of January to "discuss" her suspention. However, when she arrived they had her final check in hand with paperwork. They fired her. Thankfully that same day she was hired some where else closer to home. Thank God! But enough about work let me explain the more serious matter.
On January 11, 2017 the Doctors at Kaiser set up an appointment for my mom to meet her Oncologist (liver specialist) to go over her liver. That appointment could have been sooner but they put it off til that day because the Oncologist was on vacation. I attended this appointment as well. The cancerous mass that was on my mother's liver was huge. It looked like the size of a softball, if not bigger. The Oncologist was shocked to see how big it was, and how my mom didn't look sick at all. In fact she looks completely healthy. She explained that she needed to do a lot of test to see if she has cancer anywhere else. From there she has had xrays, ultra sounds, CT scan (with blood work), another CT scan with contrast (with blood work), a papsmear, a mammogram, more blood work, a PET scan, an ERCP (on 1/24/17) and a colonoscopy (on 1/26/17). (The Doctor who did the ERCP explained to me that he removed 5 gallstones from her bile ducts and that there was a larger one that he could not remove. It had to be crushed with a lazor. Which they did not have. So she would have to have that done in Sacramento.) The oncologist said that if there was no cancer to be found anywhere else that they would like to remove the mass from my moms liver. A surgeon called her and said that everything "looks promising" and he wants to schedule her surgery. It was made on 2/2/17 at the Kaiser in Oakland. This surgery also could have been done sooner but was pushed out because the surgeon was on vacation as well. So of course I took the days off to be there for her. My mom was so scared and she expressed how she didn't to do it. I was as supportive as I could be and told her that they will take good care of her. Its always hard to see a loved one in that hospital gown laying on a bed hooked up to an IV. I did my best.
They took her back and I was left alone with her belongings in the waiting room. About an hour passed by and I recieved a call from on the anesthesiologist and she explained that they had a difficult time putting in the epidural into my mom's back. But they were able to do it and they were ready to start the surgery. I want to say two hours later the surgeon that was leading the surgery called me and asked me where I was. I told him that I was in the waiting room. He told me he would be right out. My heart was racing. I knew something was wrong the moment I heard his voice. He came out to me with some paper and a pen. He told me that before he started the procedure, after she was under of course. That he took a camera and went through her belly button to see if he could see any more abnormalities. Such as cancerous tissues. He said that he didn't see anything so he proceeded as planned. Once he opened her up he saw the gallbladder. He explained that the gallbladder should be plump, red, and squishy, which hers was not. At that point he took out his phone and showed me the pictures of her liver and her gallbladder. Then he told me that things aren't looking too good. He told me that mom does not have Liver cancer, But stage IV Gallbladder cancer. And its spreading. It had started in her gallbladder and moved up both ducts connected to her liver and down the duct leading to her small intestant. (BTW he drew this out for me as well.) He told me that he has seen people live up to a year with this. But he was only giving her 6 to 8 months left.
I'm sure you can only imagine how I felt. As I'm typing this I just don't know how to explain it. All I could do was cry. I tried to keep it together as he spoke. He told me that he didn't remove anything. All he did was open her up took pictures of her liver and gallbladder and then put her together again. He told me that he wants to speak to her oncologist and a radiologist about the next plan of action. He said that radiation would do more harm to what is left of her healthy liver, so that most likely wont be an option, and then he said that maybe we can try chemo beads and place them near her duct connected to the liver to try and kill the cancer that is spreading. He said that he was so sorry, and that he would call me once my mom has woken up.
My world was crumbing beneath me. The person that gave me life, who was always smiling was dying. I was so lost. Being alone didn't help me. I got outside as quick as I could to make some phone calls. The first call was to my boyfriend of 6 years. The next was to my Uncle, her brother. I evaded calling my brother since he was home alone. He didn't handle my mom telling us she had liver cancer. How was I going to be able to tell him, in the state I'm in?
About another 45 minutes to an hour passes by and the surgeon calls me back and says that my mom is starting to wake up but she is really out of it still. Seeing her broke my heart even more. The surgeon tried to explain to my mom what he told me, but of course my mom didn't really understand. All I could do was cry. Then she asked the one thing I never wanted to hear. In her groggy voice, "Am I going to die?" the surgeon paused for a moment and said yes. Then after a few moments he told me that he would come back tommorrow in the evening after my mom has rested to explain what he saw and what he wants to do. Then he left. I just held my moms hand sobbed.
The next day one of the anesthesiologist came by to check on my mom and her pain level. She said that the surgeon was on vacation today. I was extemely displeased with this information. He told us he would be there that evening. That night the surgeon came by around 10:20 pm after I had stepped out of the room to make some phone calls. My mom told me that he asked how I was doing and how she was doing. Then he said that he emailed her oncologist. Nothing else. He didn't go over what he explained to me with my mom.
Four days and three night I had spent in the hospital with my mom. I helped her with anything and everything that she needed. I helped her eat, use the bathroom and even her shower. She told me that she felt bad, that me her 26 year old daughter had to help her my 45 year old mother. I told her to never feel bad. I love her. I would do anything she needed me to do for her. I was her live in nurse basically. I did the best I could to comfort her. Yes we laughed, and as she slept I cried silently. I didn't sleep or eat much while I was there. Her comfort was my main concern.
Now back to work related stuff. Since my mother was fired from her job on 1/4/17 her insurance was going to last until the 31st, and her new insurance wasn't going to kick in until after the 60 days. That left her with no insurance. She did apply for medical with kaiser (which she did get) and that was suppose to start on 2/1/17. However, when I went to the pharmacy to pick up her medication so we could go home, the Tech told me that she didn't have anything. Nothing was on record. Out of pocket the total was over 700 dollars. 1 bottle of pain pills was 600 dollars. The other pain pills were 94 dollars. and her stool softener was 5 dollars. There was no way I could afford that. I bought the cheaper pain pills and got my mom out of there as quick as I could. My mom wanted nothing more then to be home.
When we finally got home I had to break the news to my brother. It wasn't easy. To this day it still isn't easy.
That has all happened within a month and a half.
If there is any money raised it will be going to my mom and her medical expenses. Or anything that she needs. In the near future I want to try and get my mom into Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto. I've heard nothing but good things from them. I'm not sure how soon she will need the money.
I honestly don't expect anyone to donate. And if you do, I don't expect much. You can only do what you can do. But every little bit counts and it would mean more then anything to my mom and I. I would appricate every ounce of it. If this money helps my mom get to Stanford, then there is hope for her to possibly live a bit longer. I'm not ready to lose my mom.
If you can't donate, I completely understand. Please share my mom's story. Thank you for taking the time to read this as well.
On December 21, 2016 my mom went to the Doctors to get a biopsy done on her liver. She was having pain prior to that appointment. Which I was there with her. The next day the Doctor called her and gave her some of the hardest news you could ever hear. She was told that she was diagnosed with Liver cancer. That same day she had told one of her supervisors at her place at her work that she had cancer.
On December 28, 2016 my mom decided to break the news to Nathan and I. Some of the hardest news to swallow. She waited to tell us because she didn't want to ruin our Christmas.
On January 1, 2017, her place of employment called her and told her that she would be suspened from work. When she asked why, the women said that she couldn't tell her and that she would have to wait for a phone call from the owner. Keep in mind, she never was able to speak to him. They requested her to come into work on the 4th of January to "discuss" her suspention. However, when she arrived they had her final check in hand with paperwork. They fired her. Thankfully that same day she was hired some where else closer to home. Thank God! But enough about work let me explain the more serious matter.
On January 11, 2017 the Doctors at Kaiser set up an appointment for my mom to meet her Oncologist (liver specialist) to go over her liver. That appointment could have been sooner but they put it off til that day because the Oncologist was on vacation. I attended this appointment as well. The cancerous mass that was on my mother's liver was huge. It looked like the size of a softball, if not bigger. The Oncologist was shocked to see how big it was, and how my mom didn't look sick at all. In fact she looks completely healthy. She explained that she needed to do a lot of test to see if she has cancer anywhere else. From there she has had xrays, ultra sounds, CT scan (with blood work), another CT scan with contrast (with blood work), a papsmear, a mammogram, more blood work, a PET scan, an ERCP (on 1/24/17) and a colonoscopy (on 1/26/17). (The Doctor who did the ERCP explained to me that he removed 5 gallstones from her bile ducts and that there was a larger one that he could not remove. It had to be crushed with a lazor. Which they did not have. So she would have to have that done in Sacramento.) The oncologist said that if there was no cancer to be found anywhere else that they would like to remove the mass from my moms liver. A surgeon called her and said that everything "looks promising" and he wants to schedule her surgery. It was made on 2/2/17 at the Kaiser in Oakland. This surgery also could have been done sooner but was pushed out because the surgeon was on vacation as well. So of course I took the days off to be there for her. My mom was so scared and she expressed how she didn't to do it. I was as supportive as I could be and told her that they will take good care of her. Its always hard to see a loved one in that hospital gown laying on a bed hooked up to an IV. I did my best.
They took her back and I was left alone with her belongings in the waiting room. About an hour passed by and I recieved a call from on the anesthesiologist and she explained that they had a difficult time putting in the epidural into my mom's back. But they were able to do it and they were ready to start the surgery. I want to say two hours later the surgeon that was leading the surgery called me and asked me where I was. I told him that I was in the waiting room. He told me he would be right out. My heart was racing. I knew something was wrong the moment I heard his voice. He came out to me with some paper and a pen. He told me that before he started the procedure, after she was under of course. That he took a camera and went through her belly button to see if he could see any more abnormalities. Such as cancerous tissues. He said that he didn't see anything so he proceeded as planned. Once he opened her up he saw the gallbladder. He explained that the gallbladder should be plump, red, and squishy, which hers was not. At that point he took out his phone and showed me the pictures of her liver and her gallbladder. Then he told me that things aren't looking too good. He told me that mom does not have Liver cancer, But stage IV Gallbladder cancer. And its spreading. It had started in her gallbladder and moved up both ducts connected to her liver and down the duct leading to her small intestant. (BTW he drew this out for me as well.) He told me that he has seen people live up to a year with this. But he was only giving her 6 to 8 months left.
I'm sure you can only imagine how I felt. As I'm typing this I just don't know how to explain it. All I could do was cry. I tried to keep it together as he spoke. He told me that he didn't remove anything. All he did was open her up took pictures of her liver and gallbladder and then put her together again. He told me that he wants to speak to her oncologist and a radiologist about the next plan of action. He said that radiation would do more harm to what is left of her healthy liver, so that most likely wont be an option, and then he said that maybe we can try chemo beads and place them near her duct connected to the liver to try and kill the cancer that is spreading. He said that he was so sorry, and that he would call me once my mom has woken up.
My world was crumbing beneath me. The person that gave me life, who was always smiling was dying. I was so lost. Being alone didn't help me. I got outside as quick as I could to make some phone calls. The first call was to my boyfriend of 6 years. The next was to my Uncle, her brother. I evaded calling my brother since he was home alone. He didn't handle my mom telling us she had liver cancer. How was I going to be able to tell him, in the state I'm in?
About another 45 minutes to an hour passes by and the surgeon calls me back and says that my mom is starting to wake up but she is really out of it still. Seeing her broke my heart even more. The surgeon tried to explain to my mom what he told me, but of course my mom didn't really understand. All I could do was cry. Then she asked the one thing I never wanted to hear. In her groggy voice, "Am I going to die?" the surgeon paused for a moment and said yes. Then after a few moments he told me that he would come back tommorrow in the evening after my mom has rested to explain what he saw and what he wants to do. Then he left. I just held my moms hand sobbed.
The next day one of the anesthesiologist came by to check on my mom and her pain level. She said that the surgeon was on vacation today. I was extemely displeased with this information. He told us he would be there that evening. That night the surgeon came by around 10:20 pm after I had stepped out of the room to make some phone calls. My mom told me that he asked how I was doing and how she was doing. Then he said that he emailed her oncologist. Nothing else. He didn't go over what he explained to me with my mom.
Four days and three night I had spent in the hospital with my mom. I helped her with anything and everything that she needed. I helped her eat, use the bathroom and even her shower. She told me that she felt bad, that me her 26 year old daughter had to help her my 45 year old mother. I told her to never feel bad. I love her. I would do anything she needed me to do for her. I was her live in nurse basically. I did the best I could to comfort her. Yes we laughed, and as she slept I cried silently. I didn't sleep or eat much while I was there. Her comfort was my main concern.
Now back to work related stuff. Since my mother was fired from her job on 1/4/17 her insurance was going to last until the 31st, and her new insurance wasn't going to kick in until after the 60 days. That left her with no insurance. She did apply for medical with kaiser (which she did get) and that was suppose to start on 2/1/17. However, when I went to the pharmacy to pick up her medication so we could go home, the Tech told me that she didn't have anything. Nothing was on record. Out of pocket the total was over 700 dollars. 1 bottle of pain pills was 600 dollars. The other pain pills were 94 dollars. and her stool softener was 5 dollars. There was no way I could afford that. I bought the cheaper pain pills and got my mom out of there as quick as I could. My mom wanted nothing more then to be home.
When we finally got home I had to break the news to my brother. It wasn't easy. To this day it still isn't easy.
That has all happened within a month and a half.
If there is any money raised it will be going to my mom and her medical expenses. Or anything that she needs. In the near future I want to try and get my mom into Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto. I've heard nothing but good things from them. I'm not sure how soon she will need the money.
I honestly don't expect anyone to donate. And if you do, I don't expect much. You can only do what you can do. But every little bit counts and it would mean more then anything to my mom and I. I would appricate every ounce of it. If this money helps my mom get to Stanford, then there is hope for her to possibly live a bit longer. I'm not ready to lose my mom.
If you can't donate, I completely understand. Please share my mom's story. Thank you for taking the time to read this as well.
Organizer and beneficiary
Vanessa Besand
Organizer
Lodi, CA
Kristi Ross
Beneficiary