Sam Wysocki's Fight Against Cancer
Donation protected
Our 24 year old daughter, Samantha Wysocki is in a fight for her life against Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancer. A year ago she found a spot on her tongue that turned into removing 1/4 of her tongue and a neck dissection to remove lymph nodes. We considered ourselved blessed as we then went 14 months thinking she was clear. Then at the end of February she discovered a new cancerous tumor under her chin which in a week was impeding her swallowing. Surgery removed this in early March, however, a subsequent PET Scan showed another concerning spot. A biopsy confirmed the cancer had now moved into her chest and now requires aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment and may require this ongoing and not just this one time. With this aggressive chemo she has significant risk of losing her fertility and she is devastated at the possibility that she may conceive at some point in the future. She also needs expensive fertility treatments to freeze eggs to secure this for her future. She has been out of work from her full time and part time jobs for several weeks already. She is a hard worker and supports herself. This falling behind financially has added to her mental stress and while we have done our best to assist, the bills are mounting at an alarming rate. While she is on insurance there are many things not covered completely - or even at all.
This has been heartbreaking to her family and friends and while we can not help her physical challenges we hope to ease her mental stress and financial burden.
We are asking for any assistance to help Samantha manage all the expenses that have come up. Your gift would be truly appreciated.
Samantha has written about her journey below if you would like to read further:
Hi, my name is Samantha Wysocki. I am 24 years old from Portland, CT. I have furbabies (cats-Leo and Orion and hamster-Daisy). I love horses and chocolate...and I have CANCER.
Where do I begin - a year or so ago my life changed forever. December 28, 2015 I heard two words I nevr though I would have to hear (at least not yet)... "it's Cancer". My mom and sister fell to tears while I gasped for the breath that had been ripped from my chest. In a matter of seconds I felt my whole world flip upside down and my heart shatter into a million pieces. On that day I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma that was present in a tumor growth on the right side of my tongue. I've never felt such a surge of emotions and been more scared of anything in my life before. All I could think is "I'm 23 years old, this can't happen to me now...". But one thing I knew for sure was that I would not let this monster define me and I sue as hell was not going to let it beat me. On January 11, 2016 I had surgery to remove the cancer (or so we thought). I had a partial glossectomy and lymph node dissection (19 total) from my right side of my neck. All 19 lymph nodes tested negative and we thought we were in the clear. For the next year I went to my regular checks and still nothing. I began to feel the fear of my disease begin to fade away and life return to normal. I reached the year mark and began to believe this was all behind me. Everything changed once again...a lump developed in my right chin that exponentially grew in a matter of two weeks. On week 3, I had another neck dissection that removed a 4.3 cm tumor that had developed in one of my lymphnodes that had expanded to attach to my muscle in my chin. Unfortunately, this time around it was not quite as simple removing the cancer with sugery alone and radiation therapy discussions began. I felt my head spin in disbelief that this monster was not only back but came back with greater force. My worst fear from the past year of my cancer returning was now a reality-a reality I did not want to accept but had no choice. Then as I prepared myself for the road of radiation ahead another bump came in the road (well more like a crater). They found ANOTHER lymphnode in my chest aggressively growing cancer. AGAIN I felt my world shatter. This time I lost myself in a fit of rage and tears, losing hope that I will survive. My cancer is something I am being told is rare in someone this young and spreading at an abnormal rate. Now I am facing an even greater battle with my life as I will undergo chemotherapy. They tell me I will face risks to my fertility which broke my heart as I have always wanted nothing more in life than to feel the love and joy of giving life and raising a family. So I knew despite my crippling financial situation as I am unemployed at this time, I need to secure my dream of my future children. To do this I am undergoing egg freezing for future use once I am finally healthy and cancer free. Doing this has begun to give me a peace of mind and a renewed positivity towards my future as I go to war within my own body to defeat this cancer hopefully once and for all. Unfortunately the fertility and egg freezing are not covered by insurance and over $6,000 for the shots and procedure and one year of storage. At the same time my insurance coverage for cancer treatments to attend specialized cancer facility is lacking in areas. I also face the unknown risk of insurance coverages as I am removed from my parent's insurance in just over one year. All of these costs and unknowns have weighed so heavily upon my shoulders. At times I have to remind myself that I simply must do what I must to save my life and let the rest come. I have never been one to really ask for much as I belive that if we work hard, have faith and love deeply we will perservere in the end. But I am beginning to realize that in order to save my life must now implement these beliefs now more than ever in a slightly different way. I need to work hard to advocate for awareness of my disease (Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Head and Neck Cancer), have faith in God and the compassion of those who surround me to help raise me up when I am weak, and to love deeper for myself, my family, my friends and every deserving creature on this Earth. Because at the end of each day what do we have if we do not have love? My love and my faith is what pushes me through this difficult time in my life and I know that I will perservere in the end. I will never give up. I will win this fight and I will live my life to the fullest and longest that I can. They say God only gives the toughest battles to his strongest warriors and I am a Warrior! Will you please join me in being a warrior too?
Love and God Bless,
Samantha
This has been heartbreaking to her family and friends and while we can not help her physical challenges we hope to ease her mental stress and financial burden.
We are asking for any assistance to help Samantha manage all the expenses that have come up. Your gift would be truly appreciated.
Samantha has written about her journey below if you would like to read further:
Hi, my name is Samantha Wysocki. I am 24 years old from Portland, CT. I have furbabies (cats-Leo and Orion and hamster-Daisy). I love horses and chocolate...and I have CANCER.
Where do I begin - a year or so ago my life changed forever. December 28, 2015 I heard two words I nevr though I would have to hear (at least not yet)... "it's Cancer". My mom and sister fell to tears while I gasped for the breath that had been ripped from my chest. In a matter of seconds I felt my whole world flip upside down and my heart shatter into a million pieces. On that day I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma that was present in a tumor growth on the right side of my tongue. I've never felt such a surge of emotions and been more scared of anything in my life before. All I could think is "I'm 23 years old, this can't happen to me now...". But one thing I knew for sure was that I would not let this monster define me and I sue as hell was not going to let it beat me. On January 11, 2016 I had surgery to remove the cancer (or so we thought). I had a partial glossectomy and lymph node dissection (19 total) from my right side of my neck. All 19 lymph nodes tested negative and we thought we were in the clear. For the next year I went to my regular checks and still nothing. I began to feel the fear of my disease begin to fade away and life return to normal. I reached the year mark and began to believe this was all behind me. Everything changed once again...a lump developed in my right chin that exponentially grew in a matter of two weeks. On week 3, I had another neck dissection that removed a 4.3 cm tumor that had developed in one of my lymphnodes that had expanded to attach to my muscle in my chin. Unfortunately, this time around it was not quite as simple removing the cancer with sugery alone and radiation therapy discussions began. I felt my head spin in disbelief that this monster was not only back but came back with greater force. My worst fear from the past year of my cancer returning was now a reality-a reality I did not want to accept but had no choice. Then as I prepared myself for the road of radiation ahead another bump came in the road (well more like a crater). They found ANOTHER lymphnode in my chest aggressively growing cancer. AGAIN I felt my world shatter. This time I lost myself in a fit of rage and tears, losing hope that I will survive. My cancer is something I am being told is rare in someone this young and spreading at an abnormal rate. Now I am facing an even greater battle with my life as I will undergo chemotherapy. They tell me I will face risks to my fertility which broke my heart as I have always wanted nothing more in life than to feel the love and joy of giving life and raising a family. So I knew despite my crippling financial situation as I am unemployed at this time, I need to secure my dream of my future children. To do this I am undergoing egg freezing for future use once I am finally healthy and cancer free. Doing this has begun to give me a peace of mind and a renewed positivity towards my future as I go to war within my own body to defeat this cancer hopefully once and for all. Unfortunately the fertility and egg freezing are not covered by insurance and over $6,000 for the shots and procedure and one year of storage. At the same time my insurance coverage for cancer treatments to attend specialized cancer facility is lacking in areas. I also face the unknown risk of insurance coverages as I am removed from my parent's insurance in just over one year. All of these costs and unknowns have weighed so heavily upon my shoulders. At times I have to remind myself that I simply must do what I must to save my life and let the rest come. I have never been one to really ask for much as I belive that if we work hard, have faith and love deeply we will perservere in the end. But I am beginning to realize that in order to save my life must now implement these beliefs now more than ever in a slightly different way. I need to work hard to advocate for awareness of my disease (Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma - Head and Neck Cancer), have faith in God and the compassion of those who surround me to help raise me up when I am weak, and to love deeper for myself, my family, my friends and every deserving creature on this Earth. Because at the end of each day what do we have if we do not have love? My love and my faith is what pushes me through this difficult time in my life and I know that I will perservere in the end. I will never give up. I will win this fight and I will live my life to the fullest and longest that I can. They say God only gives the toughest battles to his strongest warriors and I am a Warrior! Will you please join me in being a warrior too?
Love and God Bless,
Samantha
Organizer and beneficiary
Cheryl Johnson Wysocki
Organizer
Portland, CT
Samantha Wysocki
Beneficiary