Annie’s Cancer

Annie has High grade b-cell lymphoma with MYC and Bcl-2 arrangements.

Already wracked with exhaustion since Autumn 2017, a fall in April 2018 seemed to switch on a huge pain episode for Annie, which remained a mystery until her diagnosis at St John’s hospital in Maplewood, MN in July 2018. 

Ironically, the hard part of cancer isn’t the cancer, it’s trying to keep things normal and balanced and dignified WHILE you’re going through the cancer.

UPDATE:

As of March 1, I will be receiving Social Security Disability Benefits, and so I am relieved and happy to remover the donate button from my website!  HUZZAH!

How Did She Find Out?

Metastasized areas which led to the diagnosis include tender lymph nodes in Annie’s chest, uncomfortable tumors in her neck and a large, excruciating tumor in the spine which was growing and causing Annie’s T10 & T9 vertebras to crack dangerously.

The pain for the past months has been unbelievable, and the road ahead promises to be a difficult one. We’re hopeful that radiation will deal with the spine tumor, and chemo will control the Lymphoma. Your good thoughts and wishes are always welcome! 

Previous Cancer For The Landys
For the past 12 years Annie’s husband, Gerry, has been disabled with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer. During this time Annie has been the sole breadwinner for the family and also Gerry’s caregiver. The irony that Annie is suffering from Lymphoma, a ‘cousin’ blood-cancer of Myeloma, is only enhanced by the fact that both Gerry and Annie’s cancers were discovered through extensive spine injury caused by tumors. 

Self employed as one of the owners of ModeKnit Yarn for the past 5 years, during her recovery Annie won’t be able to continue to dye yarn or teach classes, at least not in the near future. In all honesty, Annie and Gerry are worried about replacing the income that will be lost when ModeKnit Yarn isn’t able to vend at as many fiber shows and Annie won’t be able to lead as many knitting classes as she has in the past years. 

Annie is also very happy to have you purchase yarns and kits which are available at the ModeKnit Yarn online shop. The shop will be revamped to reflect work dyed by Annie’s assistant, Layla, and kits compiled by Kathleen Pascuzzi, Annie’s business partner.