Carolyn's cancer story
Donation protected
Meet the Nystrom family.
Andrew, his lovely wife Carolyn, and their sweet 2yr old daughter, Evie.
Carolyn (Sundheim)has dedicated 17yrs of her life to the service of others, when she began her journey into nursing, as her mother before her. She spent her first year as an in home care nurse, but when her infant patient, was moved to Children's Hospital in Seattle, she also made the move. She would work passionately at Children's for the next 16yrs, most recently serving in the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU). Carolyn would use her gifts to care for, comfort, and lift the spirits of her young patients. She did not become a nurse for recognition, or accolades. She became a nurse out of her love for people, especially the most vulnerable of those, the children.
Carolyn and her family now find themselves in need of the same type of love that she has given so freely.
In 2009, Carolyn was diagnosed with a slow growing form of brain cancer(Oligodendroglioma), and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from the left side of her brain, which was the largest her surgeon had removed at that time. One year later, She had a grand maul seizure that would land her back in the hospital. Her first year of chemotherapy would run from 2011 to 2012.
Andrew and Carolyn committed their lives to each other, and were married in January 2014, and would celebrate the birth of their daughter, Evie, in August of that year.
They would be dealt a blow in March of 2015 with the results of a scan that showed tumor growth on the left side of Carolyn's brain. She would undergo proton therapy, a highly focused form of radiation, followed by a combination of three chemotherapies(PCV:procarbozine, vincristine, and loumustine). This would begin in July 2015 and continue to March 2016, when she was admitted to the hospital due to complications from the chemo. Her doctors opted not to continue with the final treatment. Four months later, an MRI would show that not only was the tumor growing, but it was doing so at an accelerated rate. The doctors would also identify three tumors on the right side of her brain that would not be accessible for surgery or biopsy.
Oligodendroliomas type tumors often mutate into glioblastoma tumors. The average lifespan of a patient newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, is one year, an unbearable thought.
Andrew and Carolyn have only recently learned that her neuro oncologist has taken a position at the Mayo Clinic, in Arizona, leaving them to find new specialized care. Treatment options are unclear and necessary insurance and medications are painfully expensive. The search for an effective treatment continues, as they consider their options, not excluding experimental medications. The financial burden weighs heavily on their family, as medical bills continue to pile up. Carolyn has been unable to continue doing what she loves, and will lose her insurance coverage at the beginning of the year.
To live with cancer, is to expect a fight every day. Fighting to wake up and face the challenges of the day. Fighting through nausea, discomfort, and pain. Fighting to keep a smile on your face for your loved ones. Fighting the urge to just give up. Fighting for hope. As much as Carolyn is a tender hearted servant, she is also a fighter! She fights without self pity and with a grace that is encouraging to everyone who knows her.
Even with friends and family rallying together to help in any way possible, resources are limited. Andrew and Carolyn are doing their best to remain optimistic, while the future of their beautiful family is uncertain. They are feeling a sense of urgency to live life with Evie, and create lasting memories that will be uniquely hers.
Our hope is to lift some of the weight off of this family so they can enjoy their time together. We appreciate any effort to share Carolyn's story. Remember to love on your families, hold on jealously to the time you have to spend with the people you care for most. Thank you for your time, encouragement, and generosity. Bless you!
**All donations will go to the Nystrom family and will be used for relief from medical bills, creating opportunities for quality family time, or any way they see fit.
Andrew, his lovely wife Carolyn, and their sweet 2yr old daughter, Evie.
Carolyn (Sundheim)has dedicated 17yrs of her life to the service of others, when she began her journey into nursing, as her mother before her. She spent her first year as an in home care nurse, but when her infant patient, was moved to Children's Hospital in Seattle, she also made the move. She would work passionately at Children's for the next 16yrs, most recently serving in the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU). Carolyn would use her gifts to care for, comfort, and lift the spirits of her young patients. She did not become a nurse for recognition, or accolades. She became a nurse out of her love for people, especially the most vulnerable of those, the children.
Carolyn and her family now find themselves in need of the same type of love that she has given so freely.
In 2009, Carolyn was diagnosed with a slow growing form of brain cancer(Oligodendroglioma), and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from the left side of her brain, which was the largest her surgeon had removed at that time. One year later, She had a grand maul seizure that would land her back in the hospital. Her first year of chemotherapy would run from 2011 to 2012.
Andrew and Carolyn committed their lives to each other, and were married in January 2014, and would celebrate the birth of their daughter, Evie, in August of that year.
They would be dealt a blow in March of 2015 with the results of a scan that showed tumor growth on the left side of Carolyn's brain. She would undergo proton therapy, a highly focused form of radiation, followed by a combination of three chemotherapies(PCV:procarbozine, vincristine, and loumustine). This would begin in July 2015 and continue to March 2016, when she was admitted to the hospital due to complications from the chemo. Her doctors opted not to continue with the final treatment. Four months later, an MRI would show that not only was the tumor growing, but it was doing so at an accelerated rate. The doctors would also identify three tumors on the right side of her brain that would not be accessible for surgery or biopsy.
Oligodendroliomas type tumors often mutate into glioblastoma tumors. The average lifespan of a patient newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, is one year, an unbearable thought.
Andrew and Carolyn have only recently learned that her neuro oncologist has taken a position at the Mayo Clinic, in Arizona, leaving them to find new specialized care. Treatment options are unclear and necessary insurance and medications are painfully expensive. The search for an effective treatment continues, as they consider their options, not excluding experimental medications. The financial burden weighs heavily on their family, as medical bills continue to pile up. Carolyn has been unable to continue doing what she loves, and will lose her insurance coverage at the beginning of the year.
To live with cancer, is to expect a fight every day. Fighting to wake up and face the challenges of the day. Fighting through nausea, discomfort, and pain. Fighting to keep a smile on your face for your loved ones. Fighting the urge to just give up. Fighting for hope. As much as Carolyn is a tender hearted servant, she is also a fighter! She fights without self pity and with a grace that is encouraging to everyone who knows her.
Even with friends and family rallying together to help in any way possible, resources are limited. Andrew and Carolyn are doing their best to remain optimistic, while the future of their beautiful family is uncertain. They are feeling a sense of urgency to live life with Evie, and create lasting memories that will be uniquely hers.
Our hope is to lift some of the weight off of this family so they can enjoy their time together. We appreciate any effort to share Carolyn's story. Remember to love on your families, hold on jealously to the time you have to spend with the people you care for most. Thank you for your time, encouragement, and generosity. Bless you!
**All donations will go to the Nystrom family and will be used for relief from medical bills, creating opportunities for quality family time, or any way they see fit.
Organizer
Steve Perry
Organizer
Bothell, WA
