Michelle Needs Your Help in her Cancer Journey

Michelle Needs Your Help in her Cancer Journey

Hi everyone. My name is Marija and I am opening this fundraiser for my coworker, Michelle. If you have had the pleasure of meeting her, you know how much of a caring, kind, and thoughtful woman she is. She is married to a disabled Vet, she is a mom of a 14 year old girl (her daughter lost her dad 2 years ago and couldn't bare to lose her mom too, she is everything to her).

In October of 2012, Michelle was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer. At that time, she went through a lumpectomy to remove the cancer and completed chemotherapy and radiation. After a year of treatment, she was able to go back to work.

In June of 2020, the cancer returned in her T11 of her back. It literally broke her back! She had a chryoplasty surgery and completed 3 rounds of cyberknife radiation. This had her out of work for a about a month.

In May of 2023, the cancer, once again reared its ugly head, in her lungs! Her oncologist checks her bloodwork quite frequently. Her tumor markers continued to show a rise so a PET scan was ordered. It showed two lesions in the top lobe of her lungs. They were both quite small, but of concern. The Oncologist scheduled an appointment with the doctor to do a bronchoscopy and biopsies of both lesions. It was proven that it was metastatic breast cancer found in her lungs.

She was put on a daily chemo pill and monthly injections with the intention of killing the cancer or best, to keep it at bay. The treatment did no work. After 4 months of this treatment, another PET scanned was performed. The cancer has moved into her bones and has grown in her lungs. She is on a new daily chemo pill, hoping and praying it will work!

Michelle is now living with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. She is working all day, everyday. She is also struggling with no energy and no appetite. Most days it is difficult to make it through the day, but she pushes through.

Throughout the last year, friends, family, and coworkers have shown her more love and support than she thought possible, but she always turned down financial support of fundraising efforts.

She is letting us now. Our support will help her heal through the path she has chosen. These alternatives therapies are expensive, and not covered at all by health insurance. Our support is everything to her.