Emily's Fight Against Cancer

My name is Anastasia Dao and I created this fundraiser in support of my best friend Emily Habibi and her family as Emily takes on her fight against Cancer. In order to make her life as comfortable and normal as possible while she undergoes extremely invasive major surgery and treatments, we ask for your help. Your generous donations will go towards Emily’s 5 day stay in a comfortable private room, gas to and from the city for her appointments as well as tend to her daily needs.

The above introduction shares the main reason for our ask, but if you’d like more information about Emily’s Story, please continue reading. For all updates, please scroll to the bottom.

In February of this year, after many frustrating years of trying to get several lumps on her scalp diagnosed and being continually dismissed, we received the unfathomable news that Emily was suffering from a rare form of cancer called Dermatofibro Sarcoma Protuberans (DFSP). Despite multiple consultations, Emily’s concerns were consistently dismissed as "pilar cysts," categorized as cosmetic and not eligible for coverage under OHIP. After persistent complaints, an attempt to address one of the lumps in 2018 resulted in a traumatic experience with an unprofessional doctor in Mississauga. Despite follow-ups, reassurances of "no news is good news," and continued growth and multiplication of the lumps, it wasn't until a recent visit to a dermatologist for cyst removal with associated with a large cost, that the true nature of the condition was recognized. Biopsy results confirmed cancer, indicating negligence in earlier diagnoses. Now under the care of an oncologist team at Princess Margaret Hospital, plans for surgery and radiation have been made. Emily is preparing for an incredibly invasive surgery followed by about 6-8 weeks of radiation treatments, 5x a week. This treatment plan obviously comes with significant physical and emotional challenges.

The surgery will entail Emily losing about 85% of her scalp. In order to re-construct, the surgeon will also need to remove one of Emily’s lat muscles as well as a large graft of skin from her thigh. Emily’s hair will not grow back as a result and she will require very intense physical therapy in order to regain her strength and range of motion from losing her lat muscle. For those who know Emily, she is very physically fit and active and is understandably devastated by the physical toll that this surgery will take on her.

Emily is currently taking a medical leave which will reduce her income significantly with the switch to medical disability due to the unpredictable nature of this cancer and the potential for her treatments to be extended over a longer period of time. We have and will continue to support Emily as her family, but we want to make her as comfortable and stress-free in this as possible, so we are now asking for outside support from anybody who can. We know it’s tough times for so many and even just sharing this page will go such a long way.

Let's come together as a community to rally behind Emily and show her that she is not alone in this fight. Your support, thoughts, and well wishes are greatly appreciated as she faces this challenging chapter in her life.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

So much love,

Anastasia & Emily’s army