Lindsay

On January 12, 2018 - I almost died, just three weeks after having our second child, I became very weak and made the decision to see my doctor. While at my appointment, babies in the van with their grandma, I passed out. I was taken via ambulance to Red Deer Regional Hospital where I was intubated, given multiple antibiotics, and several tests were ran. I had severe metabolic acidosis and multiple organ failure at this point, it was discovered that I had tumours, the size of cantaloupes on each ovary, tumours riddling a portion of my small intestine, and a tumour on my liver. While I was in a coma, I had two surgeries, one to remove the tumours on my ovaries, and the portion of my small intestine, and the second surgery to close up my incision after the bowel resection held. On January 15th, I was woken up from my coma, to have a severe internal bleed discovered from the bowel resection on January 17th resulting in a third surgery to have an ileostomy formed to save my life. I was told that I had Burkitts Lymphoma, and I would be going to Calgary for treatment. Five rounds of chemo, two medical emergencies, one involving another very serious gastrointestinal bleed that almost killed me for the third time resulting in another surgery to save my life. I'm very fortunate to now be in remission, to be at home with my babies, and to be the new version of myself, and to be healthy again. My life changed, I lost 6 months with my newborn and my, then 15 month old. I have been documenting my journey with Burkitts Lymphoma through Instagram under @survivingburkitts2018, I am also documenting my recovery, working to raise awareness, and striving to bring more resources for cancer patients, fighters, survivors, and their families in Central Alberta.