Four Score and Two Weeks Ago...

Four Score and Two Weeks Ago...



A lot has happened these past two weeks. I have been tried and tested and have been through more in these two weeks then some people in a year. I never in a million years would have guessed that this would be my life.

NEVER.

But here I am, and I'm going to tell my story the whole way through.

On Thursday February 9, 2017 I was diagnosed with cancer. 

I had been feeling pain in my left ankle since the middle of December, so we went to the doctor and got a boot. I had it on for a month and after that, I had it off for three weeks. 

I felt fine. 

Then one Saturday I woke up to a ton of pain in the same ankle and it was swollen up to twice the size of the other ankle. We went back to the doctor and got the boot back on and then scheduled an MRI. 

We got the MRI done and we found out I had a tumor. I went into complete shock and the doctor was talking, but I couldn't hear anything. Nothing at all. 

The doctors didn't know what kind it was, or if it was benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Due to the unknown type, they sent us down to Los Angeles to get some tests. 

I was terrified.

We did a CT guided biopsy to get pieces of the tumor out of my ankle and to test them to see if it was cancerous or not. The process of the biopsy was the scariest thing I've ever done. When it was over, the doctor said we would have news soon. 

We got the news back and it was confirmed: I have cancer. 

I have what's called a Ewing Sarcoma. It's a soft-tissue tumor between my tibia and fibula in my lower left leg. It is about 4-5 centimeters in size and is aggressive. 

Due to its aggressive nature, I will receive chemotherapy, radiation, and then surgery to remove the tumor once it is smaller and dead. The chemotherapy will be in increments of 4-8 hours for 4-7 days with 2-3 weeks in between to recover. The whole process will take a year-and-a-half to two years. Because of the intensity of the treatment, I will no longer be going to school. I will be home-schooled through the district and I will still graduate and attend senior activities.



Thankfully, the tumor is localized, so it is only in my lower leg and not in any major organs. I've had more MRI's, CT scans, and IV's than most people in their lifetimes, in the span of five days. I have received a "port" in my upper left bicep that they will use to administer chemotherapy throughout my body. I will receive treatment at Cedars-Sinai down in Los Angles. This hospital is "the hospital" in the United States for cancer patients. I have a wonderful team of doctors, surgeons, nurses, dietitians, and therapists that are helping me through this journey. 

However, my cancer is one of the most rare forms that occurs in people ages 10-20. Due to this, each time I need treatment, I will need to travel down to Los Angeles to be treated by specialists.

In calculation that's:

3+ hours down

4-8 hours of chemo

3+ hours back

We will be staying at the Ronald McDonald house for a week, each week I have chemo and then come back to Tehachapi for 2-3 weeks, when my treatment is done. 

I will be starting a GoFundMe page to gather donations because CANCER. IS. EXPENSIVE! 

This process will be long, hard, and expensive. But I can't thank everyone enough who has supported me so far with love and offerings of service to me and my family. 



I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and that through Him and my Savior Jesus Christ I can be strengthened more than I ever thought possible. I am trusting Him and His plan and I hope that through this trial I can help others now and in the future. 



Fight Faithfully. - Taya