Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient David Kling

We received this thank you letter with David's Story from him just before the Holidays...
Please send my deepest gratitude and thanks to your family and committee for accepting my story and blessing us with this generous gift.  My family and I are humbled by it and can't thank you all enough for helping us out during this time.  Below is a synopsis of my story thus far.

My story began on Friday, July 11th, 2014 when I received word from my doctor after a colonoscopy that the tumor they had discovered during the procedure had come back positive for colon cancer.  Needless to say my world was rocked!  The colonoscopy was not a routine procedure since I am only 34 years old.  It was scheduled after my primary care physician was unable to determine the cause of other symptoms I was experiencing, so he told me to get the colonoscopy.  

After finding out I had cancer, our next course of action was to seek a doctor and treatment.  We went a got our first opinion from a surgeon in Alexandria, VA and shortly after that we got a second opinion from a team of doctors in Philadelphia at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA).  After choosing to seek treatment at CTCA I started my radiation and chemotherapy within 2 weeks of our initial visit at CTCA (around the end of August).  I would go up to Philadelphia during the week for treatments and come home on the weekends.  I did this for 5 1/2 weeks.  

On September 25, 2014 I finished my treatments and was able to return home for about 8 weeks.  My colon resectioning surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 26th.  We are praying everything goes as smoothly as it should and as the doctors anticipate it will.  After surgery and about a 5 day stay in the hospital I will return home and recover for about 1 month and then continue chemotherapy for approx. 5 months. 

I know this is just the beginning of this journey and it will be a part of my life for ever...but I know one thing is for sure...my heavenly father is in control and I have nothing to worry about or fear.  There is a greater purpose for me going through this and only God knows why.  As long as my story can bring glory to Him and bless someone in the process, I will gladly go through this journey.  As Proverbs 3:5-6 states, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

David Kling

David, know that we are praying for you! Keep great faith!

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Karena Barton

Meet this sweet and spunky East Coaster, Karena!

"This is a picture of me trying on my new wig & styling it for first time. Not bad looking as a red head. Surprising what a curling iron & make up can do. Brought a cancer patient back to life!" -Karena

Karena is a 39 year old Maryland resident diagnosed with rectal cancer. She was originally diagnosed in April 2012 with stage 3 rectal cancer after a long battle with stomach issues. She passed her symptoms off as stomach bug because she was cramping and continually running to the bathroom over the winter. When her symptoms didn't subsided after the season, she was sent home from work to go to the doctor due to blood in her stools in March 2012.  Her doctor thought it could be menstrual issues and prescribed her ibuprofen. Her symptoms continued to worsen... she was given the opportunity to have a colonoscopy but her doctor didn't want to burden her with the bill but told Karena to come back if her symptoms got worse. (Karena originally had avoided the doctor to the financial burdens... but now she is SO proactive about her health and others; she would tell anyone now - "Don't wait! Go to the doctor!") 

Well, they got worse. She told her mom "I am dying!" She went back a few weeks later and was diagnosed on April 25 through a colonoscopy.  She immediately started chemotherapy and radiation. Later, Karena had to have surgery for an ostomy. They ended up having to do TWO ostomies on her. She was so sick this first year, she got down to 95 pounds. 

She had a PET scan and CT scan done this year which revealed 2 spots, one on each lung. These spots at metastasized from her original cancer. For which she had a thoracotomy on June 3rd 2014, where they removed half of her left lung. She has just restarted chemotherapy to try and shrink the other lung tumor and may have to have surgery to remove it. 


Through all of this, Karena has been an incredible mom of 2 boys! Her and her husband work to care for a 12 year old and a 16 year old with Asperger's. The boys have been helpful but also challenging in this time of her life. They are able to have outlets through karate and programming at the YMCA. 

Karena still is trying to work part time but it can be very difficult for her. MMCCF was able to grant Karena and her family, one month of their mortgage, one month of electricity, and a gift card for gas to get her to her multiple appointments and chemotherapy treatments! Karena had said, "The grant will help me continue to live!" 

"Share my story... if one more life gets saved from this horrible disease, it will all be worthwhile! Thanks Meredith's Miracles for all you do! Love, Karena"

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Cassandra Hodgen

Meet our northern friend Cassie Hodgden!

Cassie is a 36 year old wife and mother living in Minnesota.  Her family has relocated from the city to the country to be closer to her mother and in-laws so she can have help with her children. She has 3 children of her own and 4 step-children.  What a strong woman! Cassie's sister was diagnosed with colon cancer and found out that it was genetic. Cassie went through testing for colon cancer since her sister had been diagnosed, which is how she discovered that she herself  had colon cancer. Cassie had no symptoms of her own but was being proactive for her health since her sister had been diagnosed! We love that about Cassie! Many lives can be saved from colon cancer if we encourage our family members to get screened!

Since being diagnosed with colon cancer, she had her entire colon removed. She ended up having to be hospitalized for 2 weeks due to complications. Cassie has also been diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, which is a heredity disorder that leads to increased risk of developing many types of cancer.  Cassie has to travel 2 hours to her doctor appointments in the city multiple times per month. She is thankful that she is still able to work as a photographer but she is working to build a new client base out in the country of Minnesota.

What beautiful babies!!!

Another fun fact that MMCCF just adores about Cassie is that she suggested that our grant recipients have a community where they can connect with others just like them! With her encouragement, we just started a new facebook group for specifically OUR MMCCF grant recipients to connect, encourage, and grow with each other! We hope that this may benefit our MMCCF friends! <3 Thank you Cassie!!

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Marcie Wiley

Y'all meet this precious woman, Marcie.

Marcie started to have some troubles with her bowels. Her doctor found that she had several hemorrhoids. While Marcie was in surgery to remove these hemorrhoids, the surgeon found that her condition was much more serious than originally anticipated. She was diagnosed with colon cancer and started treatment immediately.

As Marcie battles her colon cancer diagnosis and undergoes treatment, she is living away from her family, who live in a different state. She is unable to work at this time due to her treatment schedule. Marcie has been through the grind to find organizations who can help her and she found Meredith's Miracles. We were able to help her out with one month of rent and one month of her car payment to help her battle seem just a slight bit easier!

Blessings to you Marcie! Keep on pushing on! 

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Joe Smith

Joe Smith has Stage 4 colon cancer. He was diagnosed this past June while his wife Kristina was 7 months pregnant with their son. This wonderful young family of three currently resides in Missouri.
    

Joe wasn't having any symptoms other than tiredness and heartburn.  He went to the doctor due to the urging of friends because he had "bad color."  Upon discovery of his cancer, Joe's entire colon was removed. They also discovered that his cancer at metastasized to his liver. Joe is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Although his wife continues to work as a teacher and a coach, Joe is unable to work. 

Kristina said they are always the ones giving the help and that it has been extremely humbling to have to accept help from friends and family. Kristina said they are having to swallow their pride. Kristina said they rely on God to get them through each day. She said their faith is everything to them.  Instead of asking "why us?," the Smith family looks at it as "why is it us, that so many people have helped us and reached out to us and been so kind to?"  Their perspective and outlook is inspiring.  


Because Kristina is working, they are right above the cut-off for Missouri to receive any type of help yet are struggling to get by.  We were able to help out the Smith family by paying for the rest of Baby Boy Smith's daycare for this year!  


Here are some sweet words from Kristina in emails between our grant committee:
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts, we are so appreciative of the miracle that was bestowed upon us. I just cannot begin to thank you enough for what a miracle this truly is. We would never begin to be able to say thank you enough to you, your foundation, or the legacy of Meredith you are spreading in this world. Thank you, to each and everyone of you, who decided we were worthy of this miracle. It is sometimes on the hardest days, that God sends the most beautiful angels to our lives. Thank you for being one of ours!! Thanks, Kristina

Keep on living your faith Smith Family! Thanks for being an incredible inspiration. 

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Aaron Barnette

One of our recent grant recipients Aaron is a 27 year old gentleman that lives in South Carolina with his beautiful wife and two adorable sons.  He used to work in a facility as a shipping and receiving manager.  Aaron currently is on disability due to his medical condition.  

Aaron was living a normal life until last summer when he began having stomach pains. He visited the Emergency Room twice with stomach pains. After the second visit,  doctors misdiagnosed him with Crohn's disease, which can be commonly discovered in your twenties.  During his stay in the hospital, his colon ruptured. Since Aaron had a positive family history for colon cancer, his doctors elected to perform a colonoscopy. Aaron has lost his mother to colon cancer.  They found several polyps in his colon and ended up medically inducing him into a coma.  Aaron now has a temporary ostomy bag and has undergone over 5 rounds of chemotherapy.

We were able to help Aaron and his family by granting one month's rent and car payment to help relieve some financial concerns that can come along with the diagnosis of cancer.
Blessings to this sweet family! Keep on fighting Aaron!

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Charlandria Kidd

 Here is the story of one of our past grant recipients and her battle with cancer. She has utilized her diagnosis and story to start her own campaign, cancer is No Match For My GOD + Me. She is full of strength and power!

My name is Char Kidd, and I am a conqueror of cancer. Originally I was diagnosed with hemorrhoids, and I suffered with excruciating and unbearable pain during 2011. I constantly visited doctors’ offices because the treatments were not working. One year passed and I received the diagnosis of cancer on March 1, 2012 after undergoing a colonoscopy. As one can imagine, receiving the information of having stage III colon cancer at the age of 37 sent me into a state of shock, disbelief, and questioning God as to why this was happening to me. All in all, on March 1 2012 I made the conscious decision to fight for my life. A few weeks later after cancer was confirmed, I came across Meredith’s Miracles website. During my first week of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, I applied to Meredith’s Miracles for assistance. I was granted a miracle! Meredith’s Miracles made it possible for me to get back and forth to treatments for 8 weeks by providing me with a gas card and making my car payment for 3 months. They assisted me with other very important bills as well.  I am truly grateful to God that I was able to connect with this foundation!

October 25, 2013 marked the 1-year anniversary of when cancer was removed from my body. Kingdom Inspired and Divinely Delivered, my campaign, “cancer is No Match For My GOD + Me” was birthed after I took a Private Prayer and turned it into a Public Proclamation to inspire other cancer patients, survivors, and their families that they can and will win their battles against cancer. I really considered these words in my mind. I accepted them to be true in my heart, "cancer is No Match For my GOD + Me."  I adopted these words as my personal slogan while fighting cancer. It was a long and rough journey. Through chemo and radiation treatments, surgery to remove the tumor, and another round of chemo this message was imprinted in my mind. It became a part of the fabric of my being. I believed I was going to BEAT cancer, and I did! I do not look like the things I have been through, and it is by the grace of GOD. Look at me, I have been through a lot, I have some scars, but I'm still here.  I'm the living proof.  I'm well and cancer-free because He kept me. My mission is to Educate, Encourage, and Empower individuals affected by cancer, and I have designed t-shirts and other merchandise with my slogan on them. One of my future aspirations is to change healthcare policy concerning the lack of coverage for cancer patients. Through all of my endeavors I realize with Jesus Christ at the center of my life He causes me to triumph in all things. Visit Char Kidd online at www.charkidd.com to learn more about me and my journey. Connect with me on Twitter @charkidd1 as well.

Again, this was the most trying time of my life and because of the miracle granted to me by Meredith’s Miracles I was better equipped to fight for my life against cancer.

Sincerely,

Char Kidd

Kingdom Inspired. Divinely Delivered. 

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Preston Welch

A Story from one of our recent grant recipients. We were able to help his family with their mortgage for one month... In his latest email to MMCCF wrote, "Thank you so much for all of your help and we really appreciate the assistance from the organization. Medical bills have been really overwhelming lately and knowing the mortgage will be paid next month has really given our family some hope of trying to juggle everything."

My name is Preston, I'm 31 and going through chemotherapy right now for colon cancer. I am married and have two young children (ages 2 and 8), as well as a cat and a dog. I appear healthy and young and had never had to worry about my health. For the past year, I had been experiencing symptoms of colon cancer but the symptoms were dismissed by doctors as IBS or hemorrhoids and a high fiber regimen was recommended. A few months ago, my GP referred me for a colonoscopy to see what was going on since my symptoms had never resolved and were becoming increasingly more worrisome. Throughout this process, everyone told me "You're too young, there's no way it's cancer." 

Unfortunately, it turns out that I had a 3" malignant tumor in my transverse colon, which was later diagnosed as mucinous adenocarcinoma. I was scheduled quickly for a CT/PET scan and surgery shortly after. Based on the size and scan results, they were estimating late Stage 3 or Stage 4. My surgery went fine and after being biopsied, my tumor was downgraded to an early Stage 2.  I  have been  receiving chemotherapy and will be receiving it for the next 6-8 months. It has been very difficult to manage the side effects of chemotherapy and remain full time at work in order to keep my insurance. 

The diagnosis of cancer was stressful enough as it was but the financial devastation has made things seem even more bleak.  I work full-time, but my small salary is mostly consumed by health insurance for my family. We have a high deductible insurance plan and then pay 20% after the deductible is met. This has meant that the medical costs have been several thousands of dollars, which we have been unable to afford to pay. We have been trying to juggle mortgage payments, car repair bills, childcare, and healthcare bills but there is not going to be a way to pay them all on our own.  

Preston's story is very similar to many of the stories of our grant recipients. We are grateful that we were able to give Preston and his young family a miracle this Thanksgiving Season! 

Miracles in the Making: Grant Recipient Parmesh Mudaliar

Another of our fantastic grant recipients is willing to share their story... Read, learn, and cherish the the story of Parmesh Mudaliar as told by his wife, Kelly Mudaliar in a letter she sent to us on November 17, 2013.

It began January 4^th, 2011, when I took Parmesh to the emergency room at our local hospital.  He was suffering from severe lower back pain that had not been able to be resolved by the clinic he was going to.  After the initial CT was done in the ER we were told that he was either fighting one heck of an infection or that he had some type of lymphoma and he was immediately admitted to the hospital.  Days later, at the age of 35, Parmesh was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer.  Having always been a healthy individual and with no cancer history in his family this came as quite a shock to us, as you can imagine. 

We spent the next several days in a fog of tests and tests and more tests, trying to determine how far it had spread and what our options were.  At the time our children were ages two and four and being away from them was beginning to take its toll on us.  After many tests and consults with various Dr’s, we were blessed to be connected with Dr. James O. Park, a liver tumor specialist at the University of Washington, who performed the initial surgery in May of 2011.  He partnered with a wonderful oncologist named Dr. Sam Whiting, at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, who literally threw everything but the kitchen sink at Parmesh in terms of chemotherapy.  He had a Fulfoxiri regimen for six rounds of chemo prior to the surgery.  Results of the surgery were promising although it had been a difficult one and there was no way to get all of the cancer out of his body. 

We have been extremely fortunate to spend the next two years after the surgery continuing chemotherapy every other week and living our “new normal” life.  Although Parmesh hasn’t worked since his diagnosis, on his off chemo weeks he was able to take the kids to school and pick them up, do grocery shopping and cook dinner (he is a fantastic cook!) while I was working full time.  That is, up until May of this year.  In April we received the glorious news from our new oncologist that Parmesh was being allowed a two month chemo break.  In May, about a month into the break, our nightmare began all over again when it was discovered (after going to the ER for severe abdominal pain) that the primary tumor in his colon had come back and come back full force.  After nearly two months in the hospital and no luck with radiation shrinking the tumor and thus, the blockage, he had another surgery to give him a colostomy.  This was the only chance we had at diverting away from the tumor that was growing in his colon. 

After his recovery, we went back to chemotherapy, only a different regimen this time as he was much weaker than he was two months before.  Unfortunately, this regimen wasn’t able to keep the cancer from growing and we are now in the hospital again with another tumor causing a partial bowel obstruction and our only option is to have a tube inserted through the abdomen to his stomach which we will use to release gases and liquids that build up due to the blockage.  This we will be able to do from home where we will keep him comfortable and he can spend time with our entire family.  At this point we are not sure if he will be able to continue chemotherapy or not.  It’s a waiting game. 

In the almost 3 long years and counting, we have battled:  hospital rooms, medications, doctors, nurses, emergency rooms, infusions, surgeries, insurance, imaging machines, hair loss, nausea, mental and physical exhaustion, unimaginable pain, group therapy, individual therapy, kid counseling, good news, bad news, medical terminology and lingo, and mounting medical bills.  The list goes on.  This battle is daunting and scary.

All the while on the battle field, scattered in between, we have regular, “normal” every day family life.  Losing job, changing job, kids starting school, daycare, commuting, getting a puppy dog that outgrew us so we had to give him up, family events, birthdays, trying to stay connected with friends, maintain sanity, eat, drink, sleep, go to the bathroom, clean house, rearrange house to accommodate all the changes, deal with family deaths/births and everything in between, pay bills, modified vacations, preventative doctors and dentist appointments, get a new cat, broken down car, new used car, participate in Colon Cancer walks, stay healthy, get fit, celebrate the usual Hallmark holidays like Father’s Day as normal as can be, get up and go to work even though I’m sick, remain calm when your kids are acting up, volunteer at the kids school to show them we care and want to be supportive of their school activities, parent teacher conferences, and trying to give enough attention to everyone in the family. 

Juggling the battle and regular, everyday life is so overwhelming but I would not do anything different.  We have two beautiful children, Sami and Seta who are now 7 and 5 years old, respectively.  I have a cranky husband – with good reason! – who is the love of my life and made me more happy then I could have ever dreamed of being.  I have a supportive family:  Mom, sister, and Parmesh’s fantastic family.  I have friends that refuse to let me go this road alone, who step up with more things than I even realize or think I need.  I have an employer that is very understanding and supportive.  

This fight has made us a stronger family and we will stand together against this disease and its indiscriminate nature.  Thank you to all who help us fight the battle and help keep the wheels turning on everyday life!  Without you we would be devastated.  Without you we would not be able to continue this fight.  Included in that group is Meredith’s Miracles, who has helped us tremendously by paying our utility bills for a few months so that we can have heat and get our garbage picked up.  It sounds small but it means everything to us. 

This journey is the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.  Nobody prepared me for this and I don’t think that anyone could ever be fully ready anyway.  We are not infallible!  We must live, love and be happy for everything we have – even the bad, even opposition, even what you think you can never handle – because it’s what teaches us and makes us who we are today.

I read this somewhere once:  “You never know how STRONG you can be until being STRONG is the only choice you have”.  This is the truest statement I have ever read.  Life is not a given.  At any moment, it can be taken or altered for good.  Appreciate, enjoy, cherish, revel in and remember every moment.  As minute as it may seem it is important and has meaning. 

But most of all, love….always love.
Kelly

Man of Steel?

I married a man who believes that he is, Superman. He truly thinks that he is invincible, and that if he is hurt or injured, rubbing a little dirt in the wound will actually help. Some might call this toughness and some might call this naivety. Regardless, it is hard to get him to go to the doctor. However, after Meredith's passing, I made it my mission to make him go. He began to experience symptoms during his bowel movements that reminded me of Meredith's. He had bleeding, diarrhea, and an inability to produce normal bowel movements. After much prodding, at the age of 31 my husband finally went to the doctor. They recommended that he go in for a colonoscopy. After a night of laxatives and a day of worry at the hospital, his colon was pronounced clear, and the doctors told him he needed to eat more fiber. My "invincible" husband made sure to tell me, "I told you so," several times, but for the first time, I didn't care. He had a healthy colon, and that's all that mattered. Meredith's story allowed me to be more educated and aware of colon cancer, and even though my husband was only 31, I knew that there was a possibility that his body might be telling him something. If you are experiencing any symptoms, or know someone who is, I encourage you or them to go to the doctor.

No one is invincible.

Here are some basic symptoms according to the CDC:

Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first. Someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.
If there are symptoms, they may include—

• Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).
• Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that don't go away.
• Losing weight and you don't know why.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. However, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.