Help Cami Cooper

It’s been just over 6 months since Cami was diagnosed with cancer. A lot has happened since then, but also, as some who are (unluckily) familiar with a cancer diagnosis know, a lot hasn’t happened either. Let me start first by sharing what has happened:

1. Cami underwent tumor removal surgery from her abdomen and spent several weeks recovering

2. She received her official diagnosis - Endometrial Stroma Sarcoma

3. She had a spinal fusion surgery and spent even more time recovering from that surgery. Following the surgery on her spine, she was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease.

4. Following her spinal surgery, scans showed the cancer has metastisized and 4 new tumors were discovered in her abdomen.

5. Most recently, Cami has received a referral to cancer support care to treat sypmtoms of the cancer, and side affects of medicines

6. Family updates: Jacob has moved back to Arkansas from California; Juliet earned her massage therapy certification and has started working; Ellie has been accepted into the University of Arkansas for Fall 2023; and Cami has had ample opportunities to spend time with her grandson, Kai.

Now let me share some of what hasn’t happened:

1. Radiation

2. Chemo

3. 2nd surgery to remove tumors

4. Pain relief for everyday functioning

5. A strong cohesive plan communicated clearly from a team of doctors for how we’re going to take the offensive and rid her body of this cancer

I feel it’s necessary to expound on #5 above. My intention is *not* to make it read negatively towards healthcare workers. It’s more of a “F@$k you” to cancer. Phew! I feel better getting that off my chest. One more time for good measure - F@$K CANCER!. Especially metastatic Endometrial Stroma Sarcoma. It’s very rare - the rarest type of uterine cancer that accounts for less than 1% of cancers of the female reproductive organs. There are less than 700 new cases each year. Because of this, there seems (I’m no doctor!) to be a deficit of studies done on the disease and its treatments. At this time, based on limited amount of research in the scientific community, the most effective form of treatment is pro gestational agents - hormone blockers.

If you’ve stuck it out this long reading (thank you!) I hope you’re able to read the frustration Cami and those of us who love her, have been feeling the last 6 months. She received her cancer diagnosis and then we were all ready to help her fight it aggressively only to learn that the “aggressive fight” means sitting and waiting for months to see if 2 little white pills can do their job to stop her body from releasing hormones and effectively stop her body from spreading the cancer elsewhere.

So for 6 months, we’ve been waiting. Waiting for those 2 pills to do something, yet in that time, more tumors have emerged. We’re still told to wait. We must wait another 3-6 months to see if the pill is deemed effective. This season of waiting has been hard. During this time, the amount of physical pain Cami has endured from the side effects of all her medicines, the recovery of 2 major surgeries, and the chronic pain that is synonymous with degenerative disk disease is harrowing. **Not to mention she’s borne the weight of maintaining her sobriety for over 2 years. Enduring all of this pain sober is something she and all of us who love her are so incredibly proud of.

Since publicly sharing her diagnosis, Cami’s friends and family have stepped up and helped where they’re able. You helped by bringing meals to feed her and her kids when she was unable to stand on her own feet. You found non-profits to help give her and her kids a Christmas and provide bills assistance. You dug into your pockets and gave enough money to cover a full month of rent. You gave your prayers and genuinely opened your ears and hearts to listen to her and her family cry, complain, and rejoice. Thank you for helping us during this season of waiting.

Looking ahead to the coming weeks, Cami will be meeting with her pain management team to try and get a better handle on the chronic pain she’s experiencing. She strongly believes that if she could physically feel better, she could get out and hustle $. That’s something she’s always been able to do to make ends meet - clean a house, thrift & flip furniture etc, but in this season of waiting, she’s physically incapable of doing those things. Because of that, she’s struggling to pay rent and utilities. She doesn’t have a running car. She’s struggling to meet any needs beyond what minimal government assistance provides. She would really like to meet with a functional medicine doctor, which falls outside of her insurance. With all humility, we ask, if you’re able, to donate to the go fund me to help get Cami through this season of waiting. She also asks for your prayers.