Stand with Amy: Fighting Cancer Together

We are reaching out to family, friends, neighbors, and kind hearted strangers everywhere to come together to help Amy battle cancer.

This past November, my wife Amy, a mother of 3 was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic lung cancer due to a mutation. We were left in complete shock because up to this point she was completely healthy and does not have a history of smoking, drugs, or alcohol use. She has worked hard her whole life and loves to spend time with our children whether that is at home or at events such as the Renaissance Faire or Comic-con. She loves nature, crocheting, and playing games with family and friends. The cancer has made it virtually impossible for Amy to move around comfortably without mobility aids which has made doing the things she loves very difficult.

In October she had severe stomach pain and we rushed to the hospital. They diagnosed her with pancreatitis and after a 5 day stay in the hospital she was cleared to return home. She was referred to an imaging center to get an MRI of her abdomen to see what caused the pancreatitis, and that is when we received the devastating news. There were large masses on her pancreas, liver, lung, and numerous osseous lesions on her spine. The only symptoms she was experiencing at the time was back pain and fatigue. Amy worked a job that required a certain level of physicality, including unloading trucks and restocking shelves at her local Michael's craft store and chalked the pain and fatigue up to working long hours and carrying heavy boxes at her job.

We were referred to an amazing oncologist who ordered blood work, MRIs, an endoscopic ultrasound, a biopsy, and a cranial MRI. We discovered she has 5 tumors in her brain during the cranial MRI. The PET scan showed additional masses on her spleen, ovaries, and possibly her heart. She was strongly advised to get an echocardiogram. This revealed that she has a pericardial effusion. (a fluid build up around her heart.)

Amy has been such a trooper in the wake of such devastating news. She has remained positive and upbeat in spite of everything. Her oncology team referred her to a specialist who performed 5 sessions of targeted radiation treatments for the brain tumors and still she smiles. Her face was locked in a plastic cage and bolted to a table so they could target only the tumors. This was terrifying but she still smiled and sang on every trip to and from these treatments. She is scheduled for additional cranial MRIs in one month, 3 months, and 6 months to see if any new tumors arise.

My lovely, brave wife has kept hope in all our hearts with her strength and perseverance. Despite more and more bad news every time she got a new scan or test she has kept herself upbeat because, "Life is precious. You never know what tomorrow holds. You can smile and laugh or be depressed and I'd rather fight with a smile" . She crochets bags so that I can hand out candy during holidays. She crochets little four leaf clovers to give people luck around St. Patrick's Day. She crochets little hearts to give to people so they know they are loved. She has the biggest and kindest heart of anyone I've ever met.

Amy has recently started chemotherapy and bone infusion therapy and her oncologist is optimistic. We are incredibly fortunate that her tumors seem to be responding to the therapies she was prescribed. All of these tests, medications, and visits unfortunately come at a very steep cost. My insurance has helped some - I am working full time trying to provide for my wife and children during this time but we need help. The road is long but there is hope and with everyone's help we can fight this together.

We would appreciate all the thoughts, prayers, and good positive energy sent our way. We completely understand if you are unable to help financially during this time of economic hardship, but we ask that you share this with anyone you can.

Thank you all for everything.

Love,

Andrew and Amy