04/22/2026
Tina’s story didn’t begin with just a diagnosis—it began with a fight she never saw coming.
She was diagnosed with Stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a moment that instantly changed everything. What followed was not just one procedure, but a series of intense, life-altering interventions.
She underwent a hemiglossectomy, where 50% of her tongue was removed. Surgeons then performed a complex reconstruction, using tissue from her forearm and thigh to rebuild what had been lost. At the same time, she endured a neck dissection, where 29 lymph nodes were removed in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.
To support her breathing during recovery, a tracheotomy was placed. She was also given a feeding tube, as something as basic as eating was no longer possible in the way it once had been.
Just four weeks later, Tina faced another surgery—this time to achieve clearer margins and ensure no cancer was left behind.
And still, she wasn’t done.
She went on to complete seven weeks of head and neck radiation, five days a week—pushing through each session with one goal in mind: preventing the cancer from ever coming back.
This wasn’t just treatment.
This was resilience.
This was survival—one step, one procedure, one day at a time.
If Tina’s story moved you, please consider supporting others facing the same fight.
‼️ 👉 Donate here: https://ocf.donordrive.com/participants/41615
