I generally keep my blog pretty light hearted and upbeat, but today I have a pretty big request of you all. One of my oldest and dearest friends needs some prayers in a major way. It’s the most heart wrenching story, one that I’ll spare you most of the details, of a young woman with cancer.
My story with Amanda begins when we were kids. We grew up together in the same small town and were close friends all throughout school. Many, many memories. Countless really. We both went to college at Indiana University and were roomies for 3 of those 4 years. After college graduation Amanda married and started a family in Indiana. Even though I moved to Charleston she and I have remained close in that sacred “we’ll be friends forever” sort of way that only really good friends can have.
In April of 2011 Amanda, along with her husband Aaron and their two daugthers Ava and Ella, welcomed baby Nolan to the world. The pregnancy had been one that was extremely difficult and painful due to a fibroid and a lymph node the size of a canteloupe and a grapefruit. In May, about one month after Nolan’s birth, we learned that Amanda has cancer. After numerous tests and surgeries and a recent trip to MD Anderson in Houston, the cancer has been determined to be UTROSCT. UTROSCT is an extremely rare form of cancer which stands for Uterine Tumor Resembling Ovarian Sex Chord Tumor. Googling will pull up very little. Sadly, it has already spread to her sacrum, breast, rib and skull. To make this whole situation even more cruel, Amanda is experiencing unbearable pain. But you wouldn’t know, I’ve not once heard her complain about it. She began carboplatin/taxol chemo treatment yesterday, but it is a very hard road ahead, one that is in God’s hands.
Because this cancer is so incredibly rare, they’re pretty much throwing darts at a treatment. If you happen to have any information on UTROSCT (maybe you or someone you know has it) please contact me. Likewise, if you know or happen to be an OB oncologist, please get in touch with me. Any information would be helpful at this point. You can visit Amanda’s Caring Bridge page to learn more about her condition.
I humbly ask that you please take time out of your day to say a prayer for my friend Amanda, her family, her doctors, and for her strength. I assure you that this amazing woman and her beautiful family are worth every second of your time. And if you feel the need to do more, please share this post. You never know who might see it and how it could help.
[…] want to thank you for your support after this post I shared two years ago. I felt that I owed it to you all to let you know of Amanda’s passing. […]
chassity, i’m so sorry for your friend. what a tough thing to go through. lots of love, and prayer, sent to you both.
Just sent one up.
so sorry i am just now getting to this..
i will say many prayers for her until she is well…
i can’t even imagine…
xo
jenny
Hello, I too was touched by this story and would like to help! How can I contact you? I would like to put you in touch with a friend who knows an amazing cancer doctor. Please e-mail your contact info to: jenniferlaake@yahoo.com
I received this story through facebook from my cousin in Jasper, IN.
Many prayers to Amanda and her family.
I learned of this situation from Liz Edwards (see comment above). I am praying and will continue to pray that God may bless this family in some amazing miraculous ways and that many will see His great power, love, and compassion and that He may be glorified through it! I am heart broken for this family. Please update so that we may pray specifically for this precious family’s needs!
Thanks, Nancy
The Apple Basket Teacher
I am praying for your sweet friend and her family. I shared this on my own blog in an effort to get more people lifting her up in prayer.
http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/prayer-needed.html
Liz
I wanted to let you know that I have prayed too. I will tweet this post so that we can get more prayers for Amanda.
So very sorry to hear about your friend. I am praying for her.
I will be praying for Amanda and her precious family. I live in Houston (about 10-15 minutes from MD Anderson) and would be glad to open my home to Amanda and her family.
Sending many, many prayers to this beautiful family! I’m sorry Chassity.
Oh, Chassity, that is just heartbreaking. Huge hugs and prayers to Amanda and her family and friends. Cancer is so evil. I have had too many friends struggle with it already!
Chassity, sorry I am just now reading this post. What a beautiful family. A friend of mine was recently (April) diagnosed with breast cancer, she is 43, the mother of 5 (one adopted just one year ago). She is a beautiful writer, and has a blog you and/or Amanda may want to read…you will be able to relate and maybe find some comfort in her words, it is called Even the Sparrow. I will continue to send up prayers for Amanda, her family, you, and the team of doctors working with her.
My dad sent this TED talk to me last night, and I read this post this morning. I don’t know if it will give you any links or ideas to help your friend because they are different cancers, but it might:
http://www.ted.com/talks/dave_debronkart_meet_e_patient_dave.html?utm_source=newsletter_weekly_2011
She and her family will be in my prayers daily. This just breaks my heart and it could be any of us.
Sending prayers from Beaufort SC, and to you . I am originally from Indianapolis, grew up in CT, and now reside in Beaufort. My 2 oldest children live in Charleston. Small world! Hang in there, I know what a difficult time this is for you. I love your blog, newest follower.
Linda
Praying for your friend and her family…my heart aches for them, but I will continuously lift them up.
My prayers go up for Amanda and her family. I am some connections with Oncologists here in KC, I can see if I can find out anything that may help.
Emily
My prayers go up for Amanda and her family. I am some connections with Oncologists here in KC, I can see if I can find out anything that may help.
Emily
My prayers go up for Amanda and her family. I am some connections with Oncologists here in KC, I can see if I can find out anything that may help.
Emily
I am so sorry to hear about Amanda, Thank you for posting. We are sending prayers. I work in Oncology, but in pediatrics. I will ask around to see if anyone of my doctor friends know of anything!
That is so incredibly sad! She is a beautiful woman with a precious family that needs her! I will keep her and her fmaily in my thoughts and prayers!
Oh Chassity, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I’ll keep her in my heart and prayers. I hope everything works out for the best. Big hugs xoxo
i reposted this on my blog…. and i am praaaaaaaaying. hard.
Sending thoughts and prayers for your sweet friend.
I second the above recommendation for Gerson Therapy. My dad was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has completely stopped it in its tracks with zero medical intervention. I thought he was crazy at first, but now I am definitely a believer.
What a courageous friend you have. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her beautiful family xo
My thoughts and prayers are with your friend Amanda. Janell
I’ve never read or commented before but I saw your post on someone’s blogroll. Your friend is such a fighter and has so many prayers going for her. It must be amazing to know that there are prayers all over the country for this strong lady.
Your friend and her beautiful family are in my prayers. She is lucky to have your friendship in this difficult time.
Saying prayers for your beautiful friend and hoping the treatment proves successful.
I don’t know a lot about MD Anderson, but It might be worth a call to Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I have been receiving treatment there for a year. I have stage 4 Lung cancer which had spread to my neck, ribs, pelvis, spine, hip and tail bone. Everything is stable and in the process of healing. They offer a lot of experience and a ton of hope! Just something to think about. I wish your friend the best. CANCER CAN BE BEATEN! It is every day by some one!
I’m so sorry to hear of your friend’s incredibly sad story. I’ll be praying for her and her family.
Adding Amanda and her family to my prayer list. God grant them grace, courage, strength and healing.
So sorry to hear this kind of news! Praying for her and her family and for you as well! And what the power of prayer can really do!!
Praying for your friend Amanda and her sweet family.
I am praying for her, and this is truly heartbreaking being a mom. She is so brave and strong. I don’t know if I can be of any help with this, but my Dad was diagnosed with an incurable form of lymphoma:mycosis fungoides. After being told there was nothing he could do and it was extremely rare, he went to the Schachter Center. http://www.mbschachter.com/ They focused on diet and supplements. I know not everyone is open to compliementary or integrated medicine, but he has been in remission for over 2 years. I wish her recovery and hope that someone out there can help her.
This is so incredibly sad. She and her family have already been added to mine and Farris’s nightly prayers.
I saw this story on a couple of Facebook friends’ profiles. Although I don’t know Amanda, I was touched by her story. Chassity, you said any information would be helpful, so I’d like to suggest that the family look into Gerson Therapy. I have seen the miracles that Gerson Therapy can do for cancer patients. Chemo and radiation seem to only shorten precious lives as they attack the whole body. Amanda needs her body to work to heal itself. It’s just a suggestion. Some people may not believe it since the people who support it in the US don’t have M.D. behind their names (in other countries, though, that’s another story). I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t totally believe in it. Please look into Gerson Therapy. It can save such a young, vibrant life!
Sending huge prayers her way.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. So devastating when a young mother has to go through such a trying time. Sending warm hugs your way ~
We are so very sorry to hear this and will absolutely pray for her and her family every night. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.
I will definitely be praying for Amanda. It just breaks my heart for her and her beautiful family that they have to endure this. I do know that the power of prayer has helped many of my friends through very trying times, and Amanda is lucky to have a friend like you to reach out to everyone for their prayers. We are all here for you and Amanda! Big hugs!
I am so sorry to hear of Amy’s diagnosis. Please have her check out http://www.burzynskiclinic.com in Houston. There is an excellent video about his antineoplaston therapy on vimeo.
My heart is broken for your fried and her gorgeous family. She will be in our thoughts & prayers, please keep us posted. Sending a big virtual {{{HUG}}} your way. xo
my heart aches for this precious family and all her friends. Sending endless prayers her way!!
This link is in regard to cancer and treatments that have helped many forms of cancer.
I don’t know very much about the doctor in question but there must be some truth to hi research.
http://vimeo.com/24821365
Oh Chassity, I never imagined your post was going to be this intense. You can be 100% sure that I’ll include your friend in my night’s prayers. Being a mom it brakes my heart that another mom is going through this, it just doesn’t seem fair..
Oh Chassity, I never imagined your post was going to be this intense. You can be 100% sure that I’ll include your friend in my night’s prayers. Being a mom it brakes my heart that another mom is going through this, it just doesn’t seem fair..
Oh Chassity, I never imagined your post was going to be this intense. You can be 100% sure that I’ll include your friend in my night’s prayers. Being a mom it brakes my heart that another mom is going through this, it just doesn’t seem fair..
This story really touches my heart. I will keep Amanda and her family in my prayers, Chassity. What a beautiful young woman and a beautiful family. I do believe in the power of prayer and remaining positive and hopeful.
I will definitely say a special prayer for her, for her family and friends who are all experiencing this tough time together. I pray that God gives her the strength to continue on this journey and that He gives her body the strength to fight the cancer…..and prayers for a full recovery. I pray God provides love, warmth and comfort for her and for her family.
I am so sorry you guys are having to go through this tough time.
xoxo
I hate when I hear things like this for anyone…but someone so young with small children…devastating. I am so sorry and I hope she gets her miracle as she deserves it.
I wish with all my heart that I could actually be useful in this situation…I’m bawling my eyes out after reading this story and my heart aches for her and her beautiful family going through the unimaginable. My 19 year-old brother in law just got done with treatment for testicular cancer…and it was an awful ordeal…and that is *not* rare, completely curable, and he doesn’t have a family of his own. My heart and prayers go out to Amanda and asking God for one of His miracles. XOXO
What a heartbreaking story. Thank you for having the strength to share it in hopes of helping your friend and her gorgeous family. I have a good friend who is an OB/GYN – I will ask her if she knows anything about this type of cancer. And, of course, I will say a prayer for this amazing young woman!
Many prayers going out to your dear friend, Amanda, and her beautiful family.
Found your blog on twitter. This is such a heartbreaking story. I will be praying! Its in Gods hands!
This is the first I have heard of this news. I am sending so much love and light to Amanda and her whole family. She is so radiant and I am in awe of her courage as she faces the greatest challenge~ Thanks for posting this Chassity. I just love her and all you girls from our school days… LOVELOVELOVE
I’m so sorry to read about your friend. What a darling young woman and family. Prayers will be sent.
Praying. xo
Found this post through twitter. Praying for your friend. I will retweet this blog post next.
@Ashley_Designs
Thank you for sharing this, Chassity. I’m so incredibly sad to hear this. Amanda is such a beautiful woman, and her kids and husband are precious, too. I’ll be praying that the Lord will give wisdom to the doctors, comfort to Amanda, people to come alongside and encourage their family, and most of all, pray for healing for your sweet friend. It’s comforting to know we can bring everything before God and only He is mighty to save. God is faithful!
I’ll ask my mom who’s a nurse if she knows anything about this type of cancer.
xo Michaela
Chass that’s just heart-wrenching. Putting Amanda top of prayers asap.
Chassity, I’m saying a big prayer for both Amanda and YOU. At a young age, I lost my father to a very rare type of cancer as well, so I understand how scary and helpless it can feel. Big hugs and I hope this post gets you more information that can help your sweet friend and her family!
Oh my heart is breaking, what a horrible cruel thing to happen! I will say many prayers for her! Much love and well wishes!
Sending tons of prayers and happy thoughts to Amanda and her family. Thanks for letting us know.
Oh Chassity! I am forever impressed at the generosity of your spirit. Sorry that your dear friend is suffering in this way. Saying a prayer for Amanda and her lovely family and one for you too… that you’ll continue to have all of the right things to say and do to support your friend when she needs you most. Much Love, Erica
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
-Praying for your dear friend, her family and for you-peace, healing and comfort. I’ll be adding them to our church prayer chain as well.
Sending lots of prayers and well wishes.
xxLily
goldandgray.com
So heartbreaking for anyone especially a mother of 3 with a newborn. My positive thoughts and prayers go out to Amanda and her family that her pain may go away and for a successful treatment!
My heart is aching for her and her family. I do know that she can get through this. We are never given trials that we can’t deal with. I’m praying hard for her!
Oh, Chassity. I remember you mentioning Amanda when we met. I will of course say prayers for her, the doctors, and her beautiful family. My heart just breaks that such a young woman has to battle this. I will pray that the power of pray really does take over. Hang in there sweet friend. I know first hand how hard it is so watch a friend suffer.
My heart breaks for your friend and her family. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers. What a great job you are doing, bringing this to people’s attention. I hope someone reading your post will know more about the condition and be able to help.
I am so heartbroken for your friend especially since I have a son her son’s age. I sent the post to my cousin who is a breast cancer survivor and has had excellent care in NYC. Keeping Amanda in my prayers.
This just breaks my heart into a million little pieces. What a beautiful family. I will keep Amanda in my thoughts and prayers.
My fiance had late stage cancer when he was a child and his treatment too, was very experimental. One thing that has changed out lives going forward, and also the life of my aunt who recently went into remission from a very rare form of breast cancer is the book ” The Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life” by David Servan Schrieber.
I just got chills reading about your friends story. My heart goes out to her and her. She will most definitely be in my prayers.
I just wrote a post on Amanda. God is mighty to save :)
How heartbreaking… My thoughts and prayers are certainly with her, her family and with you. I can’t imagine how hard it is to see a good friend go through this. But God is a healer… Please keep us updated.
Your pictures and update touched my heart. I wish your friends much positive thought, they’re a beautiful family and deserve many future smiles together.
I will definitely be praying for your sweet friend. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for her. She sounds like an incredible woman and so strong!
Sending love and prayers to your friend and her family… I can’t imagine facing something so scary with three little ones.
Adding Amanda, her family and yours to my prayer list. We’re no strangers to the evil beast that is C.
Many prayers for strength, peace and health!
Saying prayers right now for Amanda and her sweet family. The power of prayer is amazing! Please keep us updated on your friend. Thinking about you Chassity.
Praying for healing for her, wisdom for her doctors and comfort for all of you. She sounds like an amazing woman!
My heart goes out to all of you! Prayers are being sent up and I will repost!
Please keep us updated!
AS I read your special and loving prayer request I am brought to tears while praying for your beautiful friend and her beautiful family. I will continue to pray for healing, peace, comfort and knowledge of this rare cancer. I am also praying for you who is many miles away from your dear friend.
Blessings,
Kelly
This hurts my heart so much for you and your dear friend. I had my second child in April, and can only imagine the heartbreaking fear this sweet family must be feeling. They will be in my prayers!
Chassity, I am so sorry to hear of this news. It is so heart wrenching, especially as a mother. We will keep Amanda and her beautiful family in our prayers. Please let us know what we can do to help. xo- K.
This is such a devastating story and I am forwarding all the details on to all the doctors I know and will get back to you ASAP with any details. Their entire family will be in my thoughts every minute!
Hi. I work at MD Anderson in Houston and while I don’t work on the clinical side (I’m just down the road and work in administration for the research side) I would be glad to help out in any way that I can while Amanda and her family are here. Please just let me know if there is anything I can do. (show them around, get them lunch, watch the kiddos..anything) I am only a short ride from the main hospital and my husband and I would be happy to anything we can while they are here.
SO, SO many prayers going out to your friend. Both she and her family will be in our thoughts and prayers day and night! With our deepest love, E&A
This breaks my heart :( I’ll be praying for your beautiful friend and her beautiful family. xxxx
I am praying right now!!
She is one my prayer list and I will calll all of my prayer warrior friends and family to pray. The Lord is with her and her family. xoxo, Desiree
WIll keep Amanda in my prayers. I’m sorry for her and you and everyone to have to go through this but there is always hope. marysia
I’m sending prayers from Michigan to your friend, her beautiful family, and to you Chassity.
This hurts my heart, but God is the Great Healer.
Gretchen
Many healing prayers being said for her and her family.
I am so sorry to hear this! My mother-in-law battled a rare form of cancer, so I absolutely understand the awful feeling of not knowing whether or not the treatment is working, etc. Amanda and her family are in my prayers!!! Please keep us updated, she will be on my mind!
I am not normally one that prays but I am sending so many prayers to your beautiful friend and her family. xoxo
Thinking about you and praying for you and your sweet friend and her family.
Amanda has been a strong person during this difficult time. She has a beautiful family and I hope someone reading this has some helpful information for them. Keeping them all in my prayers. A good post for a good friend of yours Chass.
Beautifully written. I’ll most certainly keep your sweet friend in my thoughts. Xo
I will add your dear friend and all involved to my prayer list. This is a heart wrenching and faith testing story that brought tears to my eyes. I’m so sorry for this Chassity. xoxox
Thinking of your friend and hoping everything works out ok. Thank you for sharing this with us Chassity xo
Sending love and strength to you and your loved ones sharing this difficult experience. ox
i’m so glad you updated us, especially those who know Amanda. I had no idea she was sick, when Jenna said something during our shoot a couple weeks ago. i’ve been heartbroken since and rarely has an hour gone by that i haven’t thought about her and her family. she is most definitely in my every prayer.
I have a friend whose Dad is dying of cancer and has just been given a few days left to live. I spent the morning crying for them and now this. I too have a son named Nolan – I will pray for her & her family.
Oh this breaks my heart- hearing about a young woman who has little children and cancer is just so so devastating. I will say many many prayers for her and will tweet your post. xoxo
Saying a big prayer for your friend that breaks my heart. My brother-in-law’s dad used to be a cancer specialist here I will ask if he knows anything about this type of cancer. Thinking of you and your friend, I will include her in my prayers every night.