Robyn Heffernan-Fighting Leukemia With Her “Army”

My name is Paige Phelps. I have the most beautiful friend that has recently been diagnosed with Leukemia. I am starting this “Go Fund Me” for Robyn, and her family, because I want to bring the many friends together who want to help ease any financial burden that this unexpected change might cause. Robyn has touched so many lives, and gives of herself so freely. She, truly, lights up any room with her contagious smile! I couldn’t think of anyone who deserves our gifts more! I know there are so many people that want to help! Here is your chance. 

Mandy, Robyn’s sister’s, words regarding Robyn’s treatment plan:

They have a long road ahead of them, which will include some future chemo treatments, after she finishes this 4 week treatment, as well as a bone marrow transplant. This will help relieve the medical expense stress and allow the Heffernan family to focus on the treatment plan and getting Robyn cancer free!  Thank you again for your thoughts, prayers, messages, gifts and video messages.  You guys ROCK!!! Thank you for helping her get through this!

By helping financially, Robyn and Sean will be able to feel comfortable knowing that they are being taken care of, as this has disrupted their lives. They can focus on each other, their kids, and the healing that needs to take place. Like Robyn said in one of her recent Facebook posts, “this is a marathon, not a sprint”! Let’s cheer this precious family on, all the way, to the finish line! No donation is too small!

This is just how quickly life can change.

Below are Robyn’s words:

How did I get here? Honestly by the grace of God. Here is the beginning of our story…

I went to San Diego with Maggie on November 11-15. Felt fine. Really tired and jet lagged upon return but so was everyone else.

December 1, I was at FiA. Tina Brunson Price led a Christmas Tree themed workout. It was 5am and around 37 degrees. I noticed I couldn’t catch my breath. I ended up walking instead of running. - honestly thought we’ll it’s cold and your out of shape because trip to California.

December 3rd, I led FiA. I purposely removed all running and did a HITT type of routine. I was so out of breath I could barely read the devotional to the group after our workout. - was mad at myself for having to “start over” with getting back in shape.

December 5-7 I drove Maggie to Murfreesboro TN for ECNL tournament. Went to Nashville on Saturday. Was at Kid Rocks Bar singing, laughing, dancing, and watching the SEC football championship. Maggie has a game at 8 pm Saturday night. It was cold. I was talking with Anna N. Wright and started a dry cough. Drove home to Lexington Sunday.

December 8th- was at a curriculum showcase. Moved chairs for participants, talked with colleagues. Got home and took a nap before taking kids to practice. - not completely crazy… I’d been traveling right

December 9th- I walk fast. I always have. I was working at a school and walking the hallways. I got winded. Had to take deep breaths.

December 10-13th I notice I’m getting winded running up the stairs to get laundry. I start to develop a more consistent (few times daily) a dry cough. Nothing comes out from it. Almost clearing my throat kind of cough.

Sean buys me cough drops.

Monday December 13: I text my doctor Scarlet Taylor who is also a friend. ( this is important because I don’t think I would have called a doctor to make an appointment.

My text to Scarlet

Hi Scatlet, I know your wrapping up things but I was wondering if you could squeeze me in or recommend something.

I have no fever. No symptoms except for a cough where little to nothing comes up. I don’t cough all day long. But about 10 times a day. This has been going on for 10 days. The last two days the right part of my chest hurts when I cough. I think muscular from coughing. And sometimes my back right shoulder blade hurts a little. As soon as I’m done coughing the muscular pain stops. I have also noticed that I am out of breath quickly when running or working out.

I’m not taking anything for the cough other than an occasional cough drop because it’s not chronic all day long coughing.

What do you think ? Again no other symptoms

She works me in.

Thursday December 16- I see Scarlet at 1:20. She orders me a chest X-ray. She gets a print out of the report. She says, you might have pneumonia, but you really don’t fit the symptoms for pneumonia. You might have an embolism She orders me a CT scan at Parkridge Prizma hospital. It is 3:30, the CT is scheduled for 4:00. I pre- register along the way as I drive to Parkridge.

I get the CT scan and wait for results in a small waiting room with a Tv that’s not turned on. The CT tech comes in and says they have the results my doctor will call me soon.

I text Sean. I don’t think this is going to be good news. I probably have an embolism. I might need you to come here but I’ll text you when I hear from Scarlet.

Scarlet calls. I don’t remember a lot from this. I hear her say Robyn I am so sorry to tell you this over the phone…. I hear something about WBC being extremely high, and lympnodes in my lung swollen and fluid… I know what this means, I think but I don’t want to ask anymore questions. I begin to cry, I cry so hard techs are coming to comfort me and I hear Scarlet say, Robyn, I want you to breathe… we need more information… we are going to get through this. I ask her to call Sean for me.

5:30 ish Riley drops Sean off at Parkridge so he can get me and the car. I remember sitting in the waiting room, waiting on Sean trying to process what just happened. I only had a cough… I just thought I needed an antibiotic or that mayb I had Covid and didn’t know it. I hear someone running, I turn it is Sean. I melt into his arms crying uncontrollably. He cries with me.

Scarlet calls. She had a friend of hers read my scans and ask for his opinion, she sends us to Lexington Medical Center ER. She wants me to get admitted so I can get a chest biopsy.

I go to the ER at 6:30. I wait. I don’t look sick. I’m not in pain. But I am scared. Sean keeps saying we will get through this.

ER doctor doesn’t want to admit me. Sean texts Scarlet. Scarlet calls doctor.

A hospitalist comes to my room. He’s seen my CT scan. He says your WBC is 36000 that’s a lot. It should be under 20.

He mentions the word’s lymphoma and lynphodema. He says we are getting you a room you will have a chest biopsy tomorrow. I get my admitted at 11 pm.

Friday December 17: after my chest biopsy Dr.Lal comes in and says I think you have Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

MUSC is the only place in SC that treats ALL. I want you to go there today. I ask if I can go home and see the kids. He says he will see but that I need to get to MUSC quickly. It’s 5:00. I’m still at LMC. I tell Sean that we need to tell the kids. We do this over FaceTime. Casey begins to cry before I even finish. He’s loud. The girls are quiet but tearful. I can see the kids all hugging one another. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Dr Lal comes in and says you can go home for the night and get things in order. MUSC will call you tomorrow.

Saturday December 18th- I get up at 6:00. Sean is already up and downstairs. He hears me and comes up and holds me. I tell him I need to wrap a few gifts. I want kids to open a few gifts today while I’m here. Sean helps me.

We give kids each one gift to open. And then we give them thei BIG gift in the garage. A weight bench, squat rack, barbell, 300 lbs, medicine ball. Maggie and Sean build the rack and bench. We are all in the garage and it feels normal. I’m glad we did this I tell Sean. He smiles.

Kids say thank you and hug my neck. Phone rings. It MUSC they have a bed can we get ther by 6. It’s 2:30 now and I say yes. I go and pack nd just cry. I can’t believe this is really happening.

Leaving the kids in the driveway was absolutely the worst feeling. Seeing them all crying and holding one another… knowing that their bc world has changed in an instant was just awful.

Sean and I drive to MUSC. We talk and cry, and laugh the entire way. We feel at peace. Sean keeps repeating you’re going to be ok. I can tell he’s saying it as much for my benefit as for his.

I read texts and FB posts. I can’t believe the love and prayers. We are just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how good our community is. How much support we do have. How much we love each other. How good God is and how he has surrounded me with people who in a moments notice during the week before Christmas will drop everything to meet our needs. I feel the Holy Spirit and so does Sean we drive peacefully to MUSC.