News from Erica

April 17, 2008

Music Mart and The Silver Spur are coordinating a spaghetti feed benefit for Erica and the Tomsha family. This family fun affair will include spaghetti (donate what you want/can), silent auction, guitar raffle, live music and other prizes and giveaways. The fun begins at Silver Spurs, 285 Romans Way, 4pm on Sunday, May 4th. Organizers would appreciate donations for silent auction and door prizes. Also if you are a musician or know a musician who would like an opportunity to "jam" this benefit is the time. Please call 452-4500 or 456-6300 for more information.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: First i want to say sorry for not writing in so long...i am in Cali right now and have felt pretty yucky for the past week. Second, id like to thank everyone who has supported me through this experience. i would be lost without you. i want to thank those of you putting on the bennifit. i wish i could be there...it would be fun to go dancing at the spur...
like i said im in beautiful california now...dont be too jealouse its really windy right now. but im going camping tomorrow for 3 days in santa barbara! im really excited about that! i just hope im not nausious like i have been for the last few days...any who...i will try to stay more in touch...thak you everyone! peace!; 4/23/2008 4:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey Erica! I Am sorry your feeling yucky.. Hopefully you will feel better soon. glad to hear you going camping that sounds super fun! That sokay that you wont be able ot make it to the benifit! My mom is donating some things from the hotel. Well stay strong and I am SO proud of you!
Danielle; 4/24/2008 2:19 PM

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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.

News from Erica

April 17, 2008

2 comments:

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