I was accepted into the (SGN-35 http://www.seagen.com/clinical_trials_sgn35.shtml) study in Rochester NY almost 9 weeks ago. We are thrilled. We travel to Rochester every 21 days to receive the treatment. The drive is just under 5 hours and quite pleasant.
The study I take part in is at the Cancer center located at the (Strong Hospital in Rochester http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-center/) and is a very beautiful facility. I love it because when I go there it doesn`t feel like I am in a hospital and doesn`t have that ``hospital smell``...The staff are so friendly and efficient and `customer service`oriented...I guess when they have to answer to YOU the paying customer they care more??? Anyway - that (comparisons of Canadian health care and US health care) is a discussion for another time...they both have their pros and cons.
My next treatment is on Tuesday. I suspect in the next month or two I will have another Pet Scan to compare to the base scan to ensure the drug is having a positive effect. I am confident that it is!
Most know that this treatment out of Rochester is at an out of pocket cost of an approximately $2400.00 per trip which is every 3 weeks (This number based on all itemized bills received now for treatment no. 1). This is more than we originally projected...It feels overwhelming at times that my life is at such a cost.
That said, we have so much to be grateful and thankful for. We are surrounded my amazing support on all levels (moral and emmotional support, prayers, positive thinking, monetary support etc)...This coming from our family, friends, friends of friends and even strangers!
In order to help us accept monetary support in a proper way my parents have opened medical trust fund which helps us pay for Medical costs and treatment associated costs which are not covered by any tpe of provincial coverage or private insurrance coverage.
The Medical trust is at the TD Canada Trust and if you are interested in Donating directly to the trust you can do so at your local branch (and can email my parents or myself for the account details). Cheques can also be made out to Mellen Light with a note in the Re: line that says Stacy`s Medical Treatment Fund and mailed to her Ottawa address (also please email one of us if you need the address).
Additionally a PayPal account has been set up for those who prefer to donate in this manner. The funds from the Paypal account are regularly transfered to the trust account.
Because I have access to email address when you donate through Paypal, I have been able to acknowledge and thank each individual personally, however those who donate at the bank I only see the amount and branch number and not who it came from so please accept my sincere thank you here (or email me if you want me to know you donated).
I`d like to say thank you SO much to my very close and longtime friend Wanda Capstick who set up the Support For Stacy blog Site (with donation button)! The link to this site can be found here: http://www.supportforstacy.blogspot.com/ Here she tells my Story with Hodgkin`s Disease beautifully and clearly has touched the hearts of many. I`d also like to thank her for putting together the Support for Stacy Facebook Page that can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=fe&ap=1#!/home.php?sk=group_161579263906502&ap=1
The access to social media has been amazing and key in helping us with the costs of the lastest treatment. The ability to spread the word this way has allowed many to donate, support us emmotionally and event set up a number of fundraising events for the Support Stacy Cause! Thank you again Wanda...You too are an amazing woman your friendship means the world to me and your support through this journey is appreciated.
Another one of my very close and longtime friends Andrea Taylor is organizing a huge garage sale event in Barrie Ontario on June 18th and all proceeds are going to the Support stacy Cause. She has had alot of help from her immediate family, her wonderful Sister in Law Jenny and several of her friends there with the collection and storage of items, spreading the word and hosting the actual event! Event details can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=fe&ap=1#!/event.php?eid=163811540347797 In addition to the Garage sale event, Andrea, Brad, Luke and Zack have been collecting pledges for the Support Stacy Cause and should they reach their goal, they will all four be shaving their heads at the end of the garage sale!!! Andrea is a very brave woman, but we already know how beautiful she looks bald as she shaved her head back in 1999 when i lost my hair then durring treatment! Go Andrea! Andrea had posted this garage sale event on the Snap Barrie page and was contacted yesterday by a Barrie Tv station who will be promoting the garage sale and the Support Stacy cause live on thursday- Exciting! Andrea is also hosting another event in which a portion of the proceeds will go to the Support Stacy Cause. She is hosting an Epicure and Jewllery Party and the event details can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=fe&ap=1#!/event.php?eid=193555767362171Thank you for all of this Andrea (and family and friends)!
Also on June 18 is a BBQ and Horseshoe Tournament being organized and hosted by 3 more of my very close girlfriends, The Duvall Sisters, Shawnette, Krista and Shannon! These 3 girls are truly amazing - they are so thoughtful, always sincere and honestly always throw great theme parties!!! Please check out and support this event by going...details can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=fe&ap=1#!/event.php?eid=157437890988516 This event promises to be an awesome time - Please attend if you can! Thank you so so so much Shawnette, Krista and Shannon xo
Here in Ottawa our friend Lisa Shail is generously donating her May and June Cheques earned from her home business. She is so amazing to do this and this action testifies to her beautiful and generous personality. You can visit her Arbonne website here: http://beautifulglow.myarbonne.ca/ Please look and order!!! Lisa is very confident in her products and I am sure you will be too if you give it a try! Thank you so much Lisa!
My beautiful sister Theresa in Wyoming state consults for Avon and will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Support Stacy Fund! Casper Wyoming peeps - Now is the time to get in those Avon Orders!!! Thank you T for all of your support, I love you xo
I also want to thank my close and longest friend (28 years and counting) friend Kim Walsh who organized a bake sale at her daughters dance recital in order to raise funds for the Support Stacy cause! You are always so creative and thoughtful and I thank you so much!
A huge thank you need to go out to Melanie , Jane, Angie and Angela (friens and co-workers at the downtown lawfirm that I worked at). They organized a very successful bake sale and 50/50 draw and the funds raised are going directly to the Support Stacy fund. I of coarse also thank everyone at GLH who helped these fine ladies and came out to support the event. I am so touched!
Longtime friend and extremely talented Ottawa area photographer Brad Bouzane donated his time and services to our family which enabled us to enjoy a very fun family photo shoot last week. He got some amazing shots and captured all of our personalities beautifully - especially my children. These photo memories are amazing and we are so thankful that you offered to do this for us! Please check out this brilliant photographer at http://www.bouzane.ca/ Thank you again Brad!
We`d also like to say thank you to Eliane who is the Special Events Coordinator Public Affairs and Publishing for the Museum of Civilization and War museum here in the national capital...She heard our story and sent our family of four free passes to each of the museums. Thank you!
I can honestly say that we are so blessed for the support on all levels from family, friends and strangers alike. Thank you to everyone who has touched our lives in one way or another! I know i have been put on a number of your nightly prayers and several church prayer lists - thank you...Also we still get the odd cards in the mail and meals in our freezer which is also wonderful!
Now honestly, I know that i have probably forgotten someone in my list of Thank you`s...Please know that we are appreciative and that if I did forget to mention something specific it is just an oversite and i appologize - please email me if I did forget :)
I will continue to make updates on the cancer front when I can and will continue to post new pics of the family as often as time permits - my 2 little ones keep me very busy!
Love the O`Neil`S xoxoxo
