Santa’s Story

Site created on July 11, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Here is my story...


In May of 2011 just 2 months after Westley was born, I felt a lump in my abdomen. I saw my doctor who scheduled a surgery to remove what appeared to be a large ovarian cyst. The cyst was cancer. I was 32, a newlywed, and a new mom. I was blindsided. That year consisted of several diagnositc procedures including abdominal surgery.  It also included an elimination diet which led to diet and lifestyle changes. 


For the next 9 years I went to several follow up appointments to monitor my body for cancer. No other cancer was found during that time.


Enter 2020. This was a tough year for many people. Learning how to live in a worldwide pandemic was very challenging. In April of 2020, right after Easter, I started experiencing difficulty in coordination and mobility on my left side. An MRI showed a golf ball sized tumor in my right frontal lobe. I had a successful craniotomy within the week and an easy recovery. A CT scan showed a few spots of cancer in some lymph nodes in my chest and neck area and my right lung. We scheduled chemotherapy to start right after brain radiation was complete. Chemotherapy was not going well due to the allergic reactions I was experiencing. We stopped the 8 cycle program after 6 cycles. The cancer continued to cause physical challenges for me and started to progress. After several clean brain MRI scans I started to get reports showing 20 plus tiny spots all over my brain. I had 3 more rounds of stereotactic radiation surgery to remove all those spots. 


I started Immunotherapy in January 20201. After 4 months my scans showed mixed results which was disappointing. I had a simple surgery to remove a tumor that had developed on my left side near my rib cage. After sending it to a lab for specific chemo sensitivity testing I started a new chemotherapy on June 15th. I continue to take immunotherapy because it seems to be helping keep the cancer under control in my brain. The new chemotherapy is very tolerable and I am not having any allergic reactions to it.  I feel like I am on the right path to recovery. I know this new chemotherapy is already working although this is a slow and long process. 


My daily struggles include getting to and from my many appointments throughout each week (I'm currently not comfortable driving), coordinating childcare each day, food and meal planning/prep/cooking, and just doing the household chores and management that I would normally do if I wasn't dealing with so many physical challenges. I do experience pain and physical limitations daily but I also feel like I am getting stronger everyday.


I am so grateful for all the love, support, and prayers that are being poured out over me and my family. Thank you for stopping by and plugging in to help our family out. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and necessary to this delicate, chaotic, and frequently overwhelming process.


In love & gratitude,
Santa Heinemann





Newest Update

July 11, 2021

Journal entry by Santa Heinemann —

I started this website today after realizing how difficult it is to coordinate help throughout each week. I copy & pasted the post I made on social media in April of last year in which I announced receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis to a journal entry on this website to show the starting point, how long this process has been, and how far we've come. 

Today over a year after receiving the diagnosis, I am still working hard each day to heal and recover. There have been many ups and downs along the way but overall I am still here loving this life. 

I am currently receiving chemotherapy every other week and immunotherapy every 3 weeks. These therapies seem to be working together to help my body shrink the cancer cells. The therapies are tolerable and I am grateful for the advances in cancer care and treatment that allow me to have a chance to overcome this illness.

Everyday I struggle with chronic pain, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and extreme fatigue. I also struggle with the limitations that come with that. In addition to my extensive medical team, I am receiving care from an acupuncturist, chiropractor, therapist, and other spiritual and energy practitioners as a way to help my mind, body, and spirit.

As a family we spend a lot of money each week on medical bills, healthy food, childcare, and other support services. Everything you donate is used to help cover the costs of this expensive endeavor and is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you for all the love and support over this past year and ongoing. I feel lifted up and surrounded by love which is so helpful in my daily journey to vibrant health and outrageous joy. Thank you for being a part of my journey and my story.

In love & gratitude,

Santa Heinemann

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