hey all! did I tell you that i am moving? I will be house sitting for a woman for about 6 months! I move today! I'm very excited! I like new places and new experiences! the womans name is Doreen Barnett. She is from Fairbanks. I wonder if she is one if the original Barnetts? anyways, she has a CUTE house, its very sunny and has good energy, which is very important to my recovery. She's a grandmother so she has lots of knick knacks all over her house, very adorable! I think i will be very happy there! I also have a new mailing address, its PO Box 1725 Lynnwood, WA 98046. if anyone wants to come visit, feel free to give me a call, I have an extra bedroom. Ok well...I gotta go pack have a great day all!
2/16/2008 9:35 AM
ericatomsha said...
PS: I guess I should mention that i am feeling pretty darn good today! I slept good for the first time in a long time. That's definitely a praise report! I have an appointment Monday at my Naturopath I have to pay for my cancer vaccine than...wish me luck!
2/16/2008 9:39 AM
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You have reached Erica's Blog. This is a place where her friends and family can go to get updates on her and her treatments. Thanks to all the generous donations received Erica has had financial support to pay for: vitamin infusions, special dietary needs, adaptive aids after her surgery, living expenses while she is unable to work, cancer vaccine therapy and travel to Alaska and California to visit family and friends. Erica remains positive and strong.
Erica
Earrings for Erica
Thank you to all the great businesses who sold earrings to benefit Erica. We will continue to sell earrings to benefit other young women in our community going through similar situations. Look for more information on where and when we will be selling. We will also post information about who will benefit from monies raised. Earrings for Erica will be available at the Quota bazaar at Alaskaland on Nov 21st.
Contacting Erica
- Erica email: Tomsha_7@yahoo.com
- Mark & Anita email: grizzlylodge@acsalaska.net
- Erica 805-458-0643 or 907-799-7982
- Anita 488-0293
- Mark 378-9747
- Erica's mailing address: 1470 Westmoreland Ave. Fairbanks, Alaska 99712
Ways to help in addition to your thoughts and prayers
- Help make earrings to sell, contact Robyn 322-5086
- Donate money to Denali State Bank - Erica Tomsha Benefit Fund - account #9013806, transfer money with routing number 125200921, send check to Bank @ PO Box 74568, Fbks, AK 99707
- Donate air miles - Alaska Airlines #000858060
- Fundraising Ideas - contact Robyn 490-6485 or email davrobyn@hotmail.com
Donate with a credit card through PayPal
Account was set up by Darcy (Davies) Etcheverry, so her email is listed at the top.
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2008
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February
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- Hey everyone. I am feeling good here in Cali. I fe...
- hi all. I had chemo on wed. im in california now. ...
- Hi everyone. Sorry i didn’t write yesterday, i tri...
- hey all! did I tell you that i am moving? I will b...
- Well, today was a good day! My Mom and I walked ar...
- hey. well, i had my appt at the U of Wash yesturda...
- Did you all miss me? Sorry for the long break...i ...
- Hey Everyone! Im so excited! Im going to Cali tomo...
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Interesting links
A little history
23 year old Erica Tomsha was born and raised in Fairbanks. Parents Mark and Anita are also long time Alaskans. Anita’s grandparents (Carlson) moved to Kodiak in the 40’s to work on WWII construction projects. From there the lure of gold drew them to Fairbanks. Anita’s dad followed and opened up Music Mart in Fairbanks 60 years ago. Mark moved to Fairbanks in the early 70’s.
From an early age Erica shared her mothers passion for horses. Learning to ride when she was 4 she quickly figured out she had to make sure her pony knew she was the boss. In elementary school she joined the Golden Heart 4-H club to continue to learn. As she got older she expanded her perspective to include IHA, ACTA, IHC, Pony Club, 4-H community service and leadership activities. She was an active member of the Tanana Whirlwinds 4-H group in high school and helped to advocate for and pass the limited liability for livestock bill which helps to insure personal responsibility for accidents occurring around livestock animals. That exposure to politics led her to an internship with Senator Stevens.
After attending UAF for a couple of years she decided to move to California where she could pursue her dream of working with horses. She has been actively training horses and riders and enjoying being around magnificent Grand Prix horses.
Although Erica had to move to Seattle for her cancer treatment she has continued to work and learn, giving riding lessons and training horses. She moved into an apartment of her own. Her father has been able to stay with her through most of her chemotherapy. Erica has lost her hair from her treatments but does not try to hide it. She encourages people to ask her about her cancer and is anxious to share her experience in the hope of teaching or providing comfort to others.Erica remains positive and upbeat. She appreciates all the concern and well wishes from her friends.
From Erica on December 6th
I want people to know that I found a lump last December that was about the size of a pencil eraser. I went to the clinic the next day and the nurse told me it was probably nothing, and because of my age it was very unlikely that it was serious. So naturally i believed her, and I continued on with my life as usual. However, 6 months later the pencil eraser grew to be the size of a golf ball in a week! So I went back to that clinic and the same nurse agreed that I probably needed a biopsy! DUH! 2 days later the same nurse told me I had Invasive Ductile Carcinoma, (I found out later that I was a stage 3a, 4 is terminal), and she told me this while crying. 2 days after that I came to Seattle because not having insurance limits my care options in California, and plus Seattle has better cancer hospitals, unless you go to UCLA or SanFran and being 300 miles away is just as hard as being 1500 miles away from home.
Being here has really changed my life; it has forced me to live in a different way (I have learned a lot about myself), it has forced me to DRAMATICALLY change my diet (which is the most important thing a cancer patient can do). I have had to watch my spending, it's hard to work when you're getting chemo once a week. I am working a little, and in return my boss (whose ex husband I live with) pays my rent. But there are so many things that the charity care program at Swedish Hospital does not cover, such as supplements and alternative treatments like acupuncture, vitamin infusions, and the cancer vaccine. It also doesn't pay for things like reconstructive surgery (which unless I want to be the one boobed wonder I will need to get). I don't have the price for this yet but i will get it as soon as I can. I have also definitely learned who my real friends are, the ones who care.
From an early age Erica shared her mothers passion for horses. Learning to ride when she was 4 she quickly figured out she had to make sure her pony knew she was the boss. In elementary school she joined the Golden Heart 4-H club to continue to learn. As she got older she expanded her perspective to include IHA, ACTA, IHC, Pony Club, 4-H community service and leadership activities. She was an active member of the Tanana Whirlwinds 4-H group in high school and helped to advocate for and pass the limited liability for livestock bill which helps to insure personal responsibility for accidents occurring around livestock animals. That exposure to politics led her to an internship with Senator Stevens.
After attending UAF for a couple of years she decided to move to California where she could pursue her dream of working with horses. She has been actively training horses and riders and enjoying being around magnificent Grand Prix horses.
Although Erica had to move to Seattle for her cancer treatment she has continued to work and learn, giving riding lessons and training horses. She moved into an apartment of her own. Her father has been able to stay with her through most of her chemotherapy. Erica has lost her hair from her treatments but does not try to hide it. She encourages people to ask her about her cancer and is anxious to share her experience in the hope of teaching or providing comfort to others.Erica remains positive and upbeat. She appreciates all the concern and well wishes from her friends.
From Erica on December 6th
I want people to know that I found a lump last December that was about the size of a pencil eraser. I went to the clinic the next day and the nurse told me it was probably nothing, and because of my age it was very unlikely that it was serious. So naturally i believed her, and I continued on with my life as usual. However, 6 months later the pencil eraser grew to be the size of a golf ball in a week! So I went back to that clinic and the same nurse agreed that I probably needed a biopsy! DUH! 2 days later the same nurse told me I had Invasive Ductile Carcinoma, (I found out later that I was a stage 3a, 4 is terminal), and she told me this while crying. 2 days after that I came to Seattle because not having insurance limits my care options in California, and plus Seattle has better cancer hospitals, unless you go to UCLA or SanFran and being 300 miles away is just as hard as being 1500 miles away from home.
Being here has really changed my life; it has forced me to live in a different way (I have learned a lot about myself), it has forced me to DRAMATICALLY change my diet (which is the most important thing a cancer patient can do). I have had to watch my spending, it's hard to work when you're getting chemo once a week. I am working a little, and in return my boss (whose ex husband I live with) pays my rent. But there are so many things that the charity care program at Swedish Hospital does not cover, such as supplements and alternative treatments like acupuncture, vitamin infusions, and the cancer vaccine. It also doesn't pay for things like reconstructive surgery (which unless I want to be the one boobed wonder I will need to get). I don't have the price for this yet but i will get it as soon as I can. I have also definitely learned who my real friends are, the ones who care.
1 comment:
Hi everyone. Sorry i didnt write yesturday, i tried but my computer was acting up. anyways, i had an appt with my natropath yesturday, it went well, i got a vitamine infusion and the took my blood for the cancer vaccine that i will be getting, i know i previously mentioned that they were going to use tumer tissue to make it up, however, evan though i was told they could get it, the only sample that the hospital kept was enough for the patholigest to examin and that sample is dead...bummer. they can use my blood, its just not quite as effective. because they took a blood sample i had to pre-pay for the vaccine which was $1750, pluss the vitamines and some supplements, the total came out to be $2230! Health care is very expencive! I want to send out a special thank you to the hard working guys who work for Norkon up north. These wonderful men gathered up a sizable donation which has been a saving grace. Everyone who has been able to help is an angle...thank you so much. Every bit touches my heart beyond mention...thank you.
On a different note, Im feeling pretty darn good today, im a litte sleepy, but thats because i drank caffinated tea too late and was not able to sleep last night. my body is not used to caffine, so a little goes a long way. I have chemo tomorrow, it will be my 3rd treatment out of 6...half done! yah!I will be going to Cali on friday, i get to hang out with my love for 2 1/2 weeks! im so stoked! and than i will come back to seattle have another treatment, start my vaccine, than possibly go to fairbanks. my dad will be working up north so my mom will have to stay home, which means i will have to go somewhere where i have someone to watch over me...i sound like i need a babysitter...jeeze. im excited not just to visit german but to get out of this city. its starting to wear on me, i have been here for 8 months and its starting to feel like 8 years...i wish i could enjoy it, but i know why im here...so its not so much fun...by the way, if anyone out there has extra airline miles not being used feel free to pass them my way...traveling isnt cheep...allright everyone, have a wonderfull week...hope to hear from all of you very soon. keep in touch, i enjoy phone calls...bye
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