Tina Time! Cancer-CounterPunch

Tina Lynn Daugherty has Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer...

She had been diagnosed and treated from 2014 in Lubbock, TX Joe Arrington Center, and was in remission.

But earlier this year she was dealing with bony chest pains. She went through testing and was found to have multiple bony metastases. 

Tina is an MA at the Covenant Urgent Care clinic where I work. She was in nursing school when she found out about the recurrence. 

When she found out, she let me know in clinic while I was charting. In a soft, matter-of-fact manner, she said that she wanted to update me that she had multiple metastases in her spine, hip, and ribs. 

She smiled, said she would trust her oncologist for the next steps, and then she went back to work. She took care of patients, asked them how their day was and tried to make them feel better.

It was so poignant to watch her selflessly and bravely move forward, hardly making a peep or complaint, dealing with very busy clinical demands when she was in a lot of pain.

Also, she continued to be very diligent with her nursing coursework. But unfortunately, because of the effects of chemotherapy, cost and time, she wasn't able to complete her program.

However, she inspired and encouraged multiple co-workers to further their dream of continuing their medical education. She asked them to put in their full effort to achieve their dreams because hers were put on hold, and she wanted to see them fulfilled through her friends. 

That's the kind of person Tina is, not to mention an outstanding mother, grandmother, wife, friend, and co-worker. 

She's done so much for other people, and now it's time for all of us to help her out.

There is an open immunotherapy trial at MD Anderson that she potentially qualifies for.  But her insurance at this time does not cover a second opinion and clinical review by the oncologist there to see if she fully qualifies for this trial. The fundraising goal is for the initial consultation, travel, and the potential costs for beginning immunotherapy therapy initiation.

Thank you for opening your hearts to Tina's story, please pray for her family and let's do our best to get her the best shot at countering this cancer!!

God bless. 

-Ron Skaria, MD