Support A Dedicated Teacher Assistant's Cancer Journey

Hello everyone! I am a Special Education Teachers Assistant for a High School. In late June, I became extremely sick and wasn't sure why. I had back pains, nausea, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, and stomach aches. I went to urgent care and they passed it off as a "passed" kidney stone and UTI. I was put on antibiotics and 3 days later things got WORSE! I ended up getting jaundice which included deep yellow eyes, yellow skin, and severe itching on top of the other symptoms. I went to the hospital and doctors ran so many tests (URINE, CT SCANS, MRI, ULTRA SOUNDS, AND BLOOD TESTS). My liver enzymes came back 20 TIMES HIGHER than the average levels. I was sicker than I thought. I was admitted for 6 days.

The MRI showed that there was a spot in my bile duct and in my liver, but biopsies were needed to determine what they were. A few days later, I had an endoscopy procedure called an ERCP with biopsy done. During the procedure I had a stint put in to open my bile duct which had a mass in it that was blocking it and interrupting the function of my liver. The biopsy came back inconclusive, so I was told that they needed to perform the surgery again 30 days later, but take 2 biopsies to be sure.

Less than 30 days later, I became extremely I'll again. The jaundice had start to set back in, but this time I had a fever. Back to the hospital I go, and this time admitted for 5 days. They ran all of the same test and it came back that I was fighting a life or death infection in my bile duct as well as pneumonia. I was put on constant antibiotics with round the clock blood work to check my levels. Two days after being admitted, I went into Sepsis. I had another emergency surgery to do the ERCP again, but with placing two stints in instead along with the two biopsies. The test results came back and I am now diagnosed with a Rare Cancer in my Bile Duct called CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA CANCER.

This cancer is rare but aggressive and fast acting. With that being said, I had to see oncologists and decide on a treatment plan right away. I am now on a 21 day cycle of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for 6-8 cycles. I also have to take anti-nausea medication and a steroid to stop one of the chemo meds from tearing up my kidneys. I am already a Type 2 Diabetic with High Blood pressure, so that's the last thing I need. Some days I don't even want to get out of the bed because I feel so horrible.

I applied for FMLA through my job, but found out that I was ineligible because even though I've been working there for 6 years, I am 115 hours too short to qualify for it. In turn, this means that I either had to return to work with an extremely weakened immune system from the chemo and immunotherapy or take a leave of absence. Along with this, I was told that I would have to either let my medical benefits go that were through my job or pay the monthly cost out of pocket each month.

Without any income, it is difficult to maintain a household and try to pay for insurance out of pocket. I am struggling and I usually don't ask for help, but right now I need it.

All I want to do is go back to work with my students and be able to be around for long time for my wife and kids! As anyone would, I wish this never happened to me, but I have to come to terms with my new reality and face it head on.

Any donation or share of this link would help. I love each and every one of you! Thank you for your time!