My name is Katie and I’m 44 years old. I was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK lung cancer that has metastasized to 75% of my bones. I also, in that period of time, experienced 9 strokes and a heart attack, all within 3 days. The cancer made my blood sticky and caused the strokes and the heart attack. My particular type of lung cancer is a genetic defect. I have a gene that is turned on and making a protein in my body that signals the growth of tumors. It’s supposed to be on when you are a baby and growing, but then it’s supposed to turn off after you have grown up. Mine has not turned off and instead of making new parts for a baby, it’s making tumors.
This year has been a roller coaster, to say the least, to become a cancer family. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s changed everybody. Lots of lessons have been learned and not all have been bad, but the stress of every day sometimes is unbearable. I have a constant fear of not being able to take care of myself and dying before my children get to do all of the important things in life. I am trying everything possible to stay alive longer. I take extremely good care of myself and do everything the doctors tell me to do. I also try tons of natural remedies and modalities.
I’ve run out of money to be able to care for myself properly in this time. It has been a struggle; we live paycheck to paycheck and barely make it every month. We are behind on our mortgage consistently. We can’t get a break. I’ve never asked for help before. I’ve spent my life taking care of people and genuinely loving it. At this point, I’m desperate for help and ready to ask for it, as painful as that might be for me. Even sitting here writing this, I have tingles and butterflies in my stomach. It’s like my body is rejecting it, but I’m doing this for the good of our family. My kids need me. My husband needs me.
Thank you for even reading this far. Thank you so much.
