Our family recently received news we never expected: our daughter, Hali, has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer that has spread to at least two lymph nodes.
While hearing the word “cancer” is terrifying, we are incredibly grateful that her doctors are optimistic. At this time, her prognosis is good, and this type of thyroid cancer is generally very treatable, especially at her age. She still has more testing ahead, including lymph node mapping to better understand how many lymph nodes may be involved.
Hali’s first surgical consult is scheduled for Thursday, June 11. From there, we expect to learn more about the surgery plan, which will include removing her thyroid and possibly removing affected lymph nodes, depending on what the mapping and surgical team determine. She is also already scheduled for high-dose radioactive iodine treatment on August 25.
As a family, we are trying to prepare for what the next few months will look like for her.
Hali currently lives in North Carolina, while her family is spread across several states and even overseas. Her dad and I are in Missouri, other family members are in Tennessee, and her mom is currently in Japan, where her husband is stationed as a Marine and currently deployed elsewhere. Because of her surgery, treatment, and recovery needs, Hali will likely need to take two to three months off work. She will also need help and support during recovery. While we would love to bring her to the comfort and safety of our Missouri home, Hali’s insurance doesn’t allow her to get care outside of North Carolina. Plus, the risk of delaying treatment to find a new care team is not a risk we are willing to take.
One of the biggest challenges is that Hali currently lives in a very small camper, which makes it difficult for family or friends to stay with her and help care for her. In addition to surgery recovery, her radioactive iodine treatment will likely come with temporary radiation safety precautions. While her doctors will give her specific instructions based on her treatment dose, these precautions can include keeping distance from others, sleeping separately, avoiding prolonged close contact, limiting time in shared spaces, and being especially careful around pets. Which is important because Hali has two dogs who will also need to be safely cared for during this time.
Because of that, we are working to rent an Airbnb or similar short-term place in North Carolina for a couple of months. This would give Hali a safer, cleaner, more comfortable place to recover, with enough space for her to rest privately when needed and still allow family members to take turns traveling in to care for her.
We are creating this fundraiser to help cover:
Medical bills and treatment-related expenses
Lost income while Hali is unable to work
Basic necessities during recovery
A temporary rental where she can safely recover
Travel costs for family members coming to North Carolina to help care for her
Groceries, recovery supplies, and comfort items
Hali has also started an Amazon wish list with practical items that will help her during recovery, including things like button-up pajamas and other necessities that may make the healing process a little easier. If you'd rather purchase something tangible. Here is that link: https://tinyurl.com/HaliAmazonWishList
Asking for help is not easy for us. We know so many people are carrying their own financial burdens, and we do not take lightly the decision to create this fundraiser. But someone reminded us that it is often easier for many people to help in small ways than for one person or one household to try to carry everything alone. That really stuck with us.
If you are able to donate, share this fundraiser, send something from her wish list, or simply keep Hali in your prayers and thoughts, we would be deeply grateful.
Above all, we want Hali to be able to focus on healing instead of worrying about bills, housing, work, or whether someone can be there to help her through recovery.
Thank you for loving Hali and for supporting her through this.
Updates:
We will use this page to share updates as we learn more from her lymph node mapping, surgical consult, surgery plan, and treatment timeline.
