Hi all my devoted readers...sorry its been a while, my life is so full of DRAMA right now its crazy! I will take a minute to fill everyone in...
First off, my Grandfather Passed away on Sat. June 7th, so i will be in Fairbanks for about another week. The Service will be held at 4pm at the First Presbyterian church down town followd by a celebration of life at 316 front st by the river right next to pro music...it is a potluck so bring a dish, we are expecting lots of music and dancing, this is not a sad day...he is in a better place.
Next, i broke up with my Fiance German, again, don’t be sad for me, i love German to death, however i am not ready to get married and start a family. this whole cancer thing has opened my eyes to the fact that i want to be free a little while longer...
I will go back to seattle on probably the 22nd and start my radiation after that. i was trying to do it up here, however it is too expensive and I’m in a great hospital down there, i really trust my Docs...so, all in all i have been having a lot of fun here with my family and friends, and im happy i can stay for a while, obviously not under the circumstances, but i love the sunshine and the good people up here. I’ll miss you guys when i leave....erica
6/13/2008 3:41 PM
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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.
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.
2 comments:
I am not happy about the letter i am writing. I left Fairbanks on monday night so that i could make a doc appt tues am. when i got to my appointment i showed my dr the ever worsening rash that i have over my masectomy scar(they MRIed the rash about two months ago and it showd no signs of cancer)he imediatly ordered another chest MRI followed by a biopsy of teh skin and the swollen lymph nodes that have become aparent in the last couple of weeks(I of course was trying to deny they were there) Of course the MRI Showed us our worst fears...the cancer is back with a vengence. it is now on my chest wall, it has invaded my skin(which by the way none of teh 3 Docs i say that day have ever seen anything like it before) and the scariest part is its in more lymph nodes. I will have a PET scan on Fri to determine whether or not it has spread to any other organs, if thats the case im a stage 4 for sure, if not they are not quite sure what to stage me at, but they were hinting that it probobly would be bad.
On a lighter note, the applause letter that i submitted to the newspaper was in the tuesday edition...check it out and tell me what you think...
Also, i will prob be going to Ak on the occasional weekend, if this is seriouse i want to spend as much time there as posible. And for those of you who are wondering, im not going to do radiation up there, i dont take care of myself as well as i should while im there, there are too many distractions, i can really focus on myself while im in Seattle.
One last thing, I start Radiation on Monday and I will also be doing Chemo at the same time, so i will be starting that sometime next week as well....keep me in your prayers...erica
Erica,
I am sorry to hear the bad news, I KNOW you will make it through this your so positive and upbeat. Your in my prayers!
your amazing strength should inspire anyone who sohlud ever have the privliage of knowing you.
love ya.
Danielle
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