Help Cathy Perry Financially

Our mother noticed something wasn't right. Her chest was hurting so incredibly bad, accompanied by lethargy, that she resulted to visiting the ER at Baptist Health; the first real step to a diagnosis. Our regular summer faded as it was replaced with countless doctors appointments, only to reveal the discovery of perhaps the most terrifying word-cancer.

Initially, our mom thought her pain was coming from the heart. After the ER released her, she was sent home thinking everything was fine because she wasn't told otherwise. A couple of days later, they called her with concern from the X-Ray. The report showed a nodule in her left lung that was 2.7cm, possibly a fungus. Because further testing was needed to determine what the mass was, we hoped for awhile it was nothing major. The next biopsy showed lung cancer.

UK hospital planned on treating our mother with a lobectomy or pnemectomy assuming that the stage was early enough to catch before it spread. Tiny spots on her lymph nodes in the left lung lit up on the MRI, causing the next biopsy that physically drained Cathy from regular activities.

The conclusion of the biopsy seemed unreal to all of our family. Inoperable Stage IV Non Small Cell Adenocarcinoma, the final stage of the disease. This deemed the surgery unnecessary because the cancer had metastasized on the lining of the lung, with the only answer being chemotherapy and radiation. We didn't know what to say or how to react; news like this doesn't easily register. Questions started forming in our heads, wondering how would we deal with this since we are both in school, why did this happen to someone amazing like our mother and if everything actually wasn't going to be okay.

She got a call from the doctor almost a week after excitedly telling her of the pathology report. Our mom has cancer, but it is a rare form called ALK+ that is treatable by a targeted chemo pill! She now has 70% chance of remission, compared to only a 30% with chemotherapy. The drug Crizotinib will help, but comes with toxic side affects that require her to be checked frequently by her oncologist. This is definitely fantastic news, but our story doesn't just end here.

Our mother is a single mother. She raised the both of us to be strong, intelligent women just like herself. She has taught Sunday School at Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church for nearly 13 years, shared the gospel with numerous people, and been a light to many with her faith. She planned on attending Asbury Seminary this Fall, and is heartbroken that she is unable to. She was passionate about her own home day care, but has to discontinue work because of her condition. Currently, we have no income besides the donations we receive from the loving community and our church family, but still isn't enough to pay all of the bills. This is such a difficult time in many aspects. One of us is a senior in college, while the other is still at home as a sophomore in high school. This past summer has greatly impacted all of our lives.

As we look ahead, many things are unsure. Our mother starts her new medicine, and we'll be updated from there. We thank you all for your prayers and kind words towards our family, everything and anything helps.
- Dakota and Calista Dean