On Thursday,
December 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Duneland Resale, 801 Broadway, Chesterton,
will hold Dessa Day, a fundraiser for Dessa Dille Waldo, a lifelong
Chesterton resident and single mother of two daughters.
Since 1997 Dessa
has battled Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a rare, inherited genetic
disease causing polyps to form in the large intestine and duodenum, almost
always becoming cancerous by age 40. She has undergone preventive major
surgery to remove a large part of the intestine, has polyps removed every
three months and goes to Chicago monthly for follow-ups and tests.
Dessa lost her
mother to this rare disease, and both of her daughters have inherited this
genetic mutation. The older daughter, now 23, had her colon removed (colon
cancer) at the age of 8 years, a second major surgery at 10, and recent
reconstructive surgery. The younger daughter, 12, has undergone yearly
colonoscopies since she was 8 years old and will eventually require the same
major preventive surgery as her sister and mother have had.
Dessa now has a new
genetic mutation, NBN, which increases the chance of breast cancer, which
she and her daughters have a 50-50 chance of developing.
Recently Dessa was
diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, requiring surgery, hospitalization and
chemotherapy.
Dessa has a
positive outlook. She is reluctant to ask for help because, as she says,
“Some people have it worse than I do.” Even during her illnesses, she has
continued working at the Chesterton Jewel-Osco store.
However, her debts
are mounting. She owes large hospital bills and a credit card bill for her
wigs. Her car needs new tires, and her home needs extensive repairs.
It will be a
difficult Christmas for the family, and the future promises more health
problems and expenses. Please come and shop on Thursday, December 17--Dessa
Day--at Duneland Resale!