Love for LeAnn in Her Fight Against Cancer

My friend LeAnn had her world turned upside down. Imagine going to the emergency room for a painful ovarian cyst only to undergo surgery, be diagnosed with diabetes, a rare type of cancer and wake up with a colostomy. It’s been a huge challenge for her to adjust to these new circumstances. We want to do anything we can to take the financial pressure off of her, so she’s able to focus on healing and beating cancer.

 

On May 9th, she went into surgery for a cantaloupe sized cyst on her left ovary that turned out to be a cancerous tumor. The large mass had spread to her right Fallopian tube and to a section of her colon. LeAnn’s surgeon was able to remove all visible cancer—he is an amazing gynecological oncologist, who will hopefully be her cancer treatment doctor as well, if insurance cooperates.

 

LeAnn’s exact diagnosis is undifferentiated endometrial carcinoma - a rare form of endometrial cancer. The doctor has set a treatment plan for 6 cycles of chemotherapy (about 18-24 weeks total) with the plan for a final surgery 4 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy. He said LeAnn will lose her hair during treatment but that there is an 85-90% chance of remission following the completion of chemotherapy. We are thankful for such a positive prognosis and definitive care plan by a trusted doctor!

 

Now here’s where we come in. Thankfully, LeAnn signed up for marketplace insurance this year, which will offset the cost of care. There are still some large out-of-pocket expenses related to medical bills and procedures that she will have to cover, as well as expensive prescriptions. She won’t be able to work in a normal capacity while undergoing 6-7 months of chemotherapy and surgery. Your support will help pay for LeAnn’s out-of-pocket medical and prescription bills as well as some living expenses.

 

Right now, the best way to support her is by donating whatever amount you can to help cover necessities over the next several months. But, if you want to personally provide any additional direct assistance, please feel free to reach out.

 

LeAnn has shared with me her amazement at how many details came together perfectly to get her to the right hospital and to the right doctor at the right time. Though the cancer is aggressive, there is a solid plan to get her into remission. And she has mentioned often how loved she has felt by her community of friends and family through this process already. Let’s do what we can to continue to support LeAnn emotionally, physically, and financially as she tackles endometrial cancer in the coming months.

 

We sincerely appreciate any and all donations and encourage you to spread the word through social media.

 

If you would like to keep up with LeAnn and receive updates, please visit the Caring Bridge site we’ve made for her:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/loveforleann

THANK YOU,

 

Alicia (Abernethy) Ward