Rick Patrick rick@greenepublishing.com
Ask any cancer survivor and they can tell you that battling cancer can be one of the most difficult struggles anyone can face. The disease itself can be devastating. Add to that the fact that treatments can be physically and financially grueling on not only the patient, but the family as well. Now imagine going through that ordeal, not once, or even twice, but three times and the harsh impact can be difficult to fathom.
That is exactly what Amber Selman Le, 40, formerly of Madison County is facing now. In March of 2016, Le was diagnosed with Sarcomatoid Carcinoma, sometimes called carcinosarcoma, which is a rare mutation between a sarcoma and a carcinogen that affects only two to three cases in every 10 million people. Since her diagnosis, Le has had two surgeries, several procedures, as well as chemotherapy. Despite this aggressive treatment, Le's cancer has reemerged and has continued to grow. What started as a single mass in her stomach has grown to three masses within her liver, the largest of which has migrated into the head of her pancreas.
The mass in her liver caused Le to go into septic shock earlier this month. This blow to Le's body caused her team of doctors to discontinue her chemotherapy, because her body was simply too weak to withstand the treatments while undergoing four to six weeks of treatment for the infection. With this latest set-back, she was told she may need to get her affairs in order.
Being a devoted mother to a 13-year-old son who is not ready to be without his mom, and a “soulmate” to her husband, Le is not ready to give up her fight. The family is seeking an expensive form of treatment that is not available in Colorado, where they live. The family is hoping to take her to the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn. In order to help pay for these alternative treatments, which could easily reach well into six figures, and to help cover the expense of six years of crushing medical bills, the family has set up a GoFundMe account, with the hopes of raising at least $25,000. To help, please go to https://gofund.me/da551e11. “Whether you can give only a dollar, or whatever God lays on your heart, it will be greatly appreciated by Amber's family, but mostly by Amber, herself,” said Deborah Kervin, Amber's mother.
Amber's family ties to Madison County are deep, with four brothers and sisters living in Madison County: April Taylor, Douglas Albritton, Billy Kervin and Travis Kervin. She also has a sister, Ashley Bouplon, of Colorado; Kim Oliver, of Newberry, Fla. and Beth Kervin, of Tampa. Her parents, Mickey and Deborah Kervin are originally from Lee, as were her grandparents, Robert and Sharon Mendheim. Amber is a member of the Class of 2000 at Madison County High School and studied at North Florida Community College.