Saving Regina May Saving Regina May

Our mother is in THE FIGHT of her life. September 2016, Regina aka Gina started to experience excruciating abdominal and back pains that soon after warranted many visits to the doctor. She became very persistent with her Primary Care physician, they sent her to a specialty doctor who concluded after running multiple test that the reason why she was experiencing constant pain was because she had gull stones. In November after the pain became too much to bare the doctors decided that removing her gull bladder would be a sensible procedure to finally eliminate her pain. 


The surgeon removed her gull bladder by performing a laparoscopic procedure; not even 24 hrs later she was in even greater pain. The doctors pushed her pain off by saying that “every patient reacts to getting their gallbladder removed differently.”. The surgeon was adamant in saying that the reason why she was still in pain was only because her body wasn’t healing as fast from her surgery and continued to reassure her that overtime her pain would indeed go away. The physicians began masking it with medicine all the while she continued to experience pain around the clock, her symptoms also progressed to the point to where she couldn't keep any food in her system. 


In April 2017 her symptoms progressed to the point to where every time she would eat her body forcefully rejected it, her pain did not subside. Regina has always been a woman in tune with her body and because of that she wanted to get a second and third opinion. Scared by the drastic change in her body, overwhelmed and weakening by the day she requested multiple test to be ran. After she healed from her surgery she got a colonoscopy which after she received a clean bill of health that she had a healthy colon other than a benign polyp and the doctor said that they would see her in another 3-5 years for another colonoscopy. The test came back normal but she continued to stay in pain around the clock, not able to hold any food in her system and lost 30 pounds within a 3 month span. This became her life until May 2017 when she literally couldn't bear the pain anymore. At this point weak from not being able to hold proper nutrients in her body her health started to severely impact her ability to perform at her job and sadly not able to continue to pursue her academic goals; her life suddenly paused.  


June 22nd 2017 her children rushed her to the ER and demanded another CAT scan to be ran in the upper abdominal region because the previous doctors only saw fit to run scans on her lower region. The evening that she had her scans done at the ER the doctor came back in the room almost pale white, barely able to look the family in the eyes; he lead the delivery of the results with say that “the CAT scan just happened to catch the lower part of her lungs” and he was “able to see that there was an innumerable amount of tumors and masses throughout her lungs a lymph nodes” he urgently advised that she see an Oncologist right away. 


After a series of different test and scans on On Tuesday, August 1st 2017, time stopped as our Regina sat in the exam room surrounded by her siblings, children and grandchild. They delivered the heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 Colon Cancer which had metastasized in her lungs. True to her character, she immediately began to console those around her, hugging them one at a time and telling them it would be okay. Her next request was that she be the one to break the news to her Mother so that she could be certain her she would be okay. 


As the eldest sister of 7, the Mother of 4, and Grandma of 7; Regina has spent her life with little concern for herself but shouldering the worries of those she loves the most. Just 5 years ago, Regina enrolled in College for the first time and is just a few classes away from her first degree! When asked why she pursed school so late in life she replied, "to show my children and grandchildren anything is possible, no matter your age.”. Regina's life has been filled with more pain and grief than most could ever bare, yet she has never complained or placed blame. We have never heard her speak poorly of anyone. On one hand she has approached the world with fear because of all the pain and trauma she has endured, yet on the other, she has met every challenge with stoic grace and love because that is what she has had to be for all those around her.


We are confident that we can beat this, but we are realistic and know that it's going to be an uphill fight. Your support and words of encouragement will help us as we tackle the day-to-day needs of Gina. Anyone that knows her can attest that she has never asked for anything, especially help. The fact that she gave permission to build this page tells us SHE WANTS TO LIVE. Even with health insurance most of her doctors are Out of Network. We want her to have the best of the best treatment we are looking at an additional cost of $80,000. Including and beyond your dollar, we are asking you to make generous deposits. Please contribute to our campaign. Your support will ensure that we provide a space comfortable for Gina to live with cancer while receiving treatment. 


Please spread the word, add Gina to your prayer list, “plant a flower to grow as she grows stronger”. We need all that we can get. Friends and family, thank you again for your love and support.