Leaving Lymphedema Behind, Stacia's Surgical Fund
Donation protected
Welcome friends, old an new! This is a fund that has been set up to help Stacia Baker with expenses related to an upcoming surgery to treat her lymphedema. Below is a little bit of her story. We thank Stacia for being so honest about her lymphedema struggles and hope her story will also encourage other women to seek help in dealing with this chronic progressive condition.
Stacia was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in March of 2012. She has emerged through some very scary and challenging times with a wealth of wisdom, grace, and gratitude. However, in the years that followed her bilateral mastectomy with lymph node removal, she developed a chronic progressive condition known as lymphedema. Since the lymphatic flow of Stacia's right arm has been disrupted, she has occurrences of a skin infection, known as cellulitis, which travels to her bloodstream causing chills, weakness, body aches, and an inability to function in her daily living. She then needs immediate antibiotics, and it will take upwards of a month for this excessive swelling to retreat back to baseline.
Stacia's local surgeon referred her to the University of Chicago and Dr. David Chang. She saw a crack of light and hope shine down upon her situation. The recommendation of a lymphatic bypass surgery with lymph node transplant was very exciting and encouraging. That is, however, until the battle of insurance approval brought it to a grinding halt.
If you happen to know Stacia, you know she isn't the kind of person who would survive breast cancer only to be reduced by an insurance denial. She has many people who depend on her, from the patients under her care, to her son, Lucas, who requires round-the-clock care. She also knows with each successive infection over time, the lymphedema will worsen, the skin will become more thickened and fibrotic, and she will no longer be a surgical candidate. So after months of working through all and any possible avenues, she has received the approval for surgery with an out of pocket expense of approximately 12,000 dollars, coupled with travel expenses, lodging in Chicago, and loss of wages for 2 weeks.
She reached out for some very humble assistance in finding a place to stay in Chicago to recover after the surgery through FB and we, her friends and family, believe she deserves a little more than that. So we have created this fund with the hope of somehow giving back a small portion of the blessings she has bestowed on so many.
We all need Stacia to keep living the life she loves so much, to keep healing, to keep caring for her family and patients, to keep creating her beautiful artwork, and to keep inspiring each of us with her passionate life.
If you feel called to bless Stacia in this way, we thank you deeply. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you know Stacia or have been inspired by her story, please feel free to share a personal comment with your donation.
Your words will be her greatest medicine.
Stacia was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in March of 2012. She has emerged through some very scary and challenging times with a wealth of wisdom, grace, and gratitude. However, in the years that followed her bilateral mastectomy with lymph node removal, she developed a chronic progressive condition known as lymphedema. Since the lymphatic flow of Stacia's right arm has been disrupted, she has occurrences of a skin infection, known as cellulitis, which travels to her bloodstream causing chills, weakness, body aches, and an inability to function in her daily living. She then needs immediate antibiotics, and it will take upwards of a month for this excessive swelling to retreat back to baseline.
Stacia's local surgeon referred her to the University of Chicago and Dr. David Chang. She saw a crack of light and hope shine down upon her situation. The recommendation of a lymphatic bypass surgery with lymph node transplant was very exciting and encouraging. That is, however, until the battle of insurance approval brought it to a grinding halt.
If you happen to know Stacia, you know she isn't the kind of person who would survive breast cancer only to be reduced by an insurance denial. She has many people who depend on her, from the patients under her care, to her son, Lucas, who requires round-the-clock care. She also knows with each successive infection over time, the lymphedema will worsen, the skin will become more thickened and fibrotic, and she will no longer be a surgical candidate. So after months of working through all and any possible avenues, she has received the approval for surgery with an out of pocket expense of approximately 12,000 dollars, coupled with travel expenses, lodging in Chicago, and loss of wages for 2 weeks.
She reached out for some very humble assistance in finding a place to stay in Chicago to recover after the surgery through FB and we, her friends and family, believe she deserves a little more than that. So we have created this fund with the hope of somehow giving back a small portion of the blessings she has bestowed on so many.
We all need Stacia to keep living the life she loves so much, to keep healing, to keep caring for her family and patients, to keep creating her beautiful artwork, and to keep inspiring each of us with her passionate life.
If you feel called to bless Stacia in this way, we thank you deeply. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you know Stacia or have been inspired by her story, please feel free to share a personal comment with your donation.
Your words will be her greatest medicine.
Fundraising team (2)
Kathy Burgess
Organizer
Grand Junction, CO
Stacia Charters Baker
Beneficiary
Julie Miller
Team member