'Fight With Us' Mother Of Herndon Cancer Patient Writes

Herndon VA

15 September, 2021

9:50 AM

Description

HERNDON, VA — Rochelle Proctor sent an email to Patch on Tuesday night with a short message: "We need help! Anything you can do is greatly appreciated. We are still at MD Anderson." Proctor's daughter Chelsea, who is an alumnus of Herndon High School and James Madison University, was studying at Johns Hopkins University in early 2020 when she was first diagnosed with for Ewing's sarcoma, an incredibly rare and aggressive form of cancer. In June, Chelsea Proctor and her mother relocated to MD Anderson Cancer Center at The University of Texas in Houston, so that she could receive proton therapy. After eight weeks of treatment that left her fatigued and sore, Chelsea began a course of high-dose chemotherapy. In October 2020, Rochelle Proctor launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to offset the travel and medical expenses the family expected to accrue in Chelsea's months-long treatment and recovery. In a Sept. 14 update on Chelsea's GoFundMe page, Rochelle reported the long summer was filled with ups and downs. "We had a few good moments after short visits from loved ones," she said. "BUT mostly, as the world was opening up from COVID-19 restrictions, and people were enjoying summer ... we were still battling cancer. We have loved watching pictures of friends, family and loved ones enjoying the world while we did our best to enjoy the blessings of each day ourselves. We were battling cancer." Donate: Support Chelsea Proctor fight cancer! TeamChelsea! On Sept. 13, Chelsea Proctor underwent a PET scan that revealed 20 or more tumors on her liver and lungs, according to her mother. Chelsea also had two tumors embedded in muscle tissue on her neck. In spite of the extensive proton therapy and chemotherapy, the cancer was still present in her body. "No victory is coming anytime soon," Rochelle Proctor wrote, in her Sept. 14 update. "The battle rages on. At least we still have some fight left. We have not exhausted every opportunity and treatment as we search for a cure." Due to their protracted stay in Houston, the original campaign goal of $100,000 has been raised to $150,000. As of 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, more than $76,000 has been donated to TeamChelsea. "We will be in Houston much longer than we anticipated," Rochelle Proctor wrote on GoFundMe. "Please pray for Chelsea. Please support her fight. She needs YOU. Cancer is trying to make her weak, yet her TEAM helps keep her strong. She needs YOU more than ever. We have come too far to lose the battle now. We are fighting. ... FIGHT WITH US." GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner. Herndon Cancer Patient Ends Proton Therapy, Starts Chemotherapy Herndon Cancer Patient Relocates To Houston For Daily Treatment Herndon Graduate Student Continues Treatment To Combat Cancer