Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Hailey Crosswhite and her dog, Dexy.
Hailey Crosswhite is embarking on the fight of her life, literally.
On Tuesday, Jan. 17, Crosswhite was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of stage IV breast cancer. Then, her life was given an expiration date.
"[Twelve] short days ago a doctor sat me down, held my hand and said 1-2 years," wrote Crosswhite in an inspirational Facebook post on Jan. 29. "He looked me in the eyes and his eyes filled with tears before he could even get the words out."
The rare form of cancer is called triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for about 10-15 percent of all breast cancers, and is characterized by its fast growth and few treatment options.
Crosswhite said she knew the diagnosis wasn't good just from looking at her PET scan. The breast cancer had already invaded much of the trunk and right side of her body, as well as her spine.
A 2011 graduate of New Rockford-Sheyenne and an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, Crosswhite has lived in Fargo with her dog, Dexy, for the past several years. She currently works as a full-time medical recruiter and volunteers at a local animal shelter.
At just 29 years old, Crosswhite knows there's still so much she wants to do, and she's decided that 1-2 years is nowhere near long enough to do it all.
"[One to two] years to finish school, 1-2 years to excel in my career, 1-2 years to not only find a man but birth a baby and start a family, only 1-2 more years with family and friends, 1-2 more years with Dexy, 1-2 more years to finish all the things I need to in my life," said Crosswhite,
"1-2 years simply is not enough time."
So now, Crosswhite is setting out on an extensive, aggressive and ambitious fight, which begins with chemotherapy once a week and physical therapy three times a week.
She completed her second chemo treatment at the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo last week, and so far has avoided serious side effects. However, lymph node swelling has meant Crosswhite sometimes struggles with basic tasks.
"I have lots of swelling on my right side which has made it difficult to brush my teeth, fix my hair etc.," she said. "This is my biggest concern right now."
Thankfully, since making her diagnosis public, Crosswhite has been inundated with generous support, and she is incredibly grateful for all the help and encouragement.
"It's been absolutely insane," said Crosswhite about the support she's received. "Just thinking about it makes me a little emotional. I had no idea I had such a phenomenal support system. ... Everyone has been so kind and so giving and I just appreciate that so much."
For those interested in supporting Crosswhite, a GoFundMe page has been set up with the goal of raising $20,000. The page can be found by searching "Hailey Crosswhite" at http://www.GoFundMe.com.
Crosswhite said she's hoping to put the generosity of others to good use at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where she may qualify for experimental treatments. It's possible those treatments will not be FDA approved, which means costs may not be covered by insurance.
Crosswhite also has links to cash app and venmo on her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hailey.crosswhite), and she's also got t-shirts for sale. Crosswhite said those interested in a t-shirt can contact her via Facebook.
The battle Crosswhite is now fighting will not be easy, and there are sure to be difficult days ahead. But no matter the cost, she is determined to continue fighting.
"With every inch of my soul I will fight this until the end," she said. "I truly believe the creator has so much more in store for me."
