Cheryl's Courageous Journey
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Take a walk with me to look at the journey of the most courageous woman I know. To truly understand the full magnitude of this journey you need to read the entire story. The pain, suffering and financial strain that Cheryl has endured is more than most of us can fathom yet she carries on with a smile on her face and a heart filled with compassion for everyone around her.
I have had the privilege of knowing Cheryl (Boychuk) Hart (Allard) since 1994. It is hard for me to fathom that throughout the 23 years I have know her and for several years prior, Cheryl has been struggling with her health. Her journey began when she was only 21 years old and diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. In the early years of our friendship I observed her go through every kind of treatment (medications, surgeries) only to succumb to having an ileostomy 2006. To complicate matters even worse, Cheryl had been in a serious car accident in 2004 which resulted in additional issues with chronic pain. This pain went undiagnosed and therefor untreated for 5 years when she was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This is a very real condition with extreme health impacts that often goes overlooked and is not widely recognized which has been part of her struggle; the claim against the other driver is still yet to be settled………13years later. Leaving Cheryl to be fully responsible for all the costs associated to her treatment (approximately $43,000.00 spent on physio, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and various other pharmaceutical treatments).
Despite the constant pain, exhaustion and financial strain, Cheryl has always put 110% into her work. Cheryl is the best advocate for children and youth that I have ever met. Working in the field of Social Work since her graduation from college, Cheryl has been rallying behind the youth in the community struggling with addictions, criminal behaviour, abuse, trauma, homelessness and mental health issues. She has poured her heart and sole into helping those youth to become more and to get the love, support and guidance that they deserve. Truly passionate about her work, Cheryl was dealt another blow when she had to finally come to the realization that her health issues were becoming too much to handle on top of working full time. In February 2012, a disability claim was filed allowing Cheryl to focus on the treatments necessary to stabilize her health and allow her to get back to work. By November 2014 this notion became a very distant possibility as her health was about to take a major turn for the worse.
In November during a medical appointment to address the extreme pain in her abdomen Cheryl was informed that she had developed several large fibroids in her uterus and that the J Pouch (makeshift bowel) was malfunctioning despite the ileostomy. The treatment plan outlined at that time was for a dual surgery to be completed. During this time, they were going to complete bowel resection (removing the J Pouch) along with a complete hysterectomy. This was a very long and difficult surgery that would require a lengthy recovery. Although Cheryl was optimistic about the surgery she was frustrated by the fact that her disability claim through insurance had been rejected (she was at the end of her 2 years) despite the unresolved issues and the evasive surgery she was facing. Many hours were spent filing reports, gathering information and pleading with claim officers. As sad as it is to say, this decision was not reversed until after the next blow was dealt.
On December 15, 2014 Cheryl underwent a very long and complicated surgery and woke to positive news that things had gone very well. Although she had a long recovery in front of her, things looked promising. That is, until Jan 13, 2015 when she received a devastating phone call. In the weeks following her surgery, routine testing was conducted on the tissue that had been removed during her surgery. During this process, pathology determined that she had developed CANCER. Cheryl was diagnosed with Squamish Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal which had already breached her uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, J Pouch, hip tissue and the lymph vascular system. This diagnosis came only a short 4 months after having lost her father to Cancer. The devastation of this news was amplified by the news surrounding the aggressive treatment she was facing. In March of 2015 she began a rigorous routine that involved 30 radiation treatments to her entire pelvic region and 198 hours of chemotherapy.
Throughout this initial phase, Cheryl remained positive and optimistic, despite having to be away from home and experiencing the extreme exhaustion that comes with treatment. During a follow-up appointment, it was determined that the cancer had invaded her lymphatic system and that several lymph nodes had tested positive for Squamish Cell Carcinoma. As a result, Cheryl underwent surgery on August 23, 2016 to remove the positive nodes. Although the surgery went well, the recovery was difficult. The hope would be that these were the only nodes affected and that removing them would be the end of her cancer journey. This unfortunately was not the case. On January 24, 2017 Cheryl was informed that the cancer had returned once again. A new lymph node was discovered on the main artery to her right kidney and in an area by her tailbone near where they believed the cancer originated. To top it off she was informed that she has received the maximum dose of radiation and that chemotherapy alone is not effective with this form of cancer.
What does this mean? What are the options? What can be done?
What it means is that the search for treatment must extend outside the realm of traditional therapies. What it means is that treatment will not be covered and that already depleted funds will be stretched even further. What it means is that my proud, courageous and compassionate friend needs help to survive: physically, emotionally and financially.
I am putting this out to those I know and those that know Cheryl and those that maybe understand the fight she is facing. Cheryl lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta where there are currently no options available to her for treatment. Although Alberta Health Care covers the cost of the traditional treatments, it does not cover the costs associated. In the last 2 years, Cheryl has accumulated over $6000.00 in expenses just to receive the treatments she requires to survive. She is unable to work and has been trying to sustain life on the 75% of her income that she receives through her disability. It has been a struggle just to ensure the basics are covered and now she is faced with the option of having to pay thousands of dollars to receive alternative cancer treatments not covered by our health care system or even provided in our country. The alternative treatments she is currently researching are in locations such as Arizona, Texas and Mexico.
Trust me when I say that starting this page has been an absolute last resort as Cheryl is a very proud and independent person. She has depleted all possible sources of income that she has in her efforts to beat this disease and now she needs our help to carry on. I have listed the treatments below with some of the associated costs to try and help people understand what she is facing.
Please help me help Cheryl in her fight. Please consider that any amount will help and please know how much this means to all of us who cherish Cheryl with all our hearts. All funds raised will go directly to supporting Cheryl through her COURAGOUS JOURNEY and updates will be provided through this site so that all those who support Cheryl can stay informed.
I THANK YOU with every part of my being……………..
Alternative Treatment Options & Costs
www.Pyatthealth.com (To get the minimal treatment of 18 hyperthermia treatments with Vit C IV will cost at least 9000.00, but they do not have a hyperthermia chamber, only local and can not administer B17) They also charge for consult $250.00.
Www.westernnaturopathic.com Dr Quan (Consult $125.00 and can offer the local hyperthermia and Vit C IV)
Biological Dentistry (Immune system seriously affected by the state of your mouth. In the last 2 years Cheryl, has lost 6 permanent teeth)
Www.TheTruthAboutCancer.com information on natural treatments for cancer
Www.Hope4cancercancun.com (Cost can range from 13000.00 to 46000.00 for most severe cancer stages). There cost includes accommodations, meals, all treatments and the ability for a support to accompany.
This is another link which will help people understand the huge financial impact cancer has on individuals in Canada, as most people believe that health care in Canada doesn't affect people financially. www.ccanceraction.ca
I have had the privilege of knowing Cheryl (Boychuk) Hart (Allard) since 1994. It is hard for me to fathom that throughout the 23 years I have know her and for several years prior, Cheryl has been struggling with her health. Her journey began when she was only 21 years old and diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. In the early years of our friendship I observed her go through every kind of treatment (medications, surgeries) only to succumb to having an ileostomy 2006. To complicate matters even worse, Cheryl had been in a serious car accident in 2004 which resulted in additional issues with chronic pain. This pain went undiagnosed and therefor untreated for 5 years when she was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This is a very real condition with extreme health impacts that often goes overlooked and is not widely recognized which has been part of her struggle; the claim against the other driver is still yet to be settled………13years later. Leaving Cheryl to be fully responsible for all the costs associated to her treatment (approximately $43,000.00 spent on physio, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and various other pharmaceutical treatments).
Despite the constant pain, exhaustion and financial strain, Cheryl has always put 110% into her work. Cheryl is the best advocate for children and youth that I have ever met. Working in the field of Social Work since her graduation from college, Cheryl has been rallying behind the youth in the community struggling with addictions, criminal behaviour, abuse, trauma, homelessness and mental health issues. She has poured her heart and sole into helping those youth to become more and to get the love, support and guidance that they deserve. Truly passionate about her work, Cheryl was dealt another blow when she had to finally come to the realization that her health issues were becoming too much to handle on top of working full time. In February 2012, a disability claim was filed allowing Cheryl to focus on the treatments necessary to stabilize her health and allow her to get back to work. By November 2014 this notion became a very distant possibility as her health was about to take a major turn for the worse.
In November during a medical appointment to address the extreme pain in her abdomen Cheryl was informed that she had developed several large fibroids in her uterus and that the J Pouch (makeshift bowel) was malfunctioning despite the ileostomy. The treatment plan outlined at that time was for a dual surgery to be completed. During this time, they were going to complete bowel resection (removing the J Pouch) along with a complete hysterectomy. This was a very long and difficult surgery that would require a lengthy recovery. Although Cheryl was optimistic about the surgery she was frustrated by the fact that her disability claim through insurance had been rejected (she was at the end of her 2 years) despite the unresolved issues and the evasive surgery she was facing. Many hours were spent filing reports, gathering information and pleading with claim officers. As sad as it is to say, this decision was not reversed until after the next blow was dealt.
On December 15, 2014 Cheryl underwent a very long and complicated surgery and woke to positive news that things had gone very well. Although she had a long recovery in front of her, things looked promising. That is, until Jan 13, 2015 when she received a devastating phone call. In the weeks following her surgery, routine testing was conducted on the tissue that had been removed during her surgery. During this process, pathology determined that she had developed CANCER. Cheryl was diagnosed with Squamish Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal which had already breached her uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, J Pouch, hip tissue and the lymph vascular system. This diagnosis came only a short 4 months after having lost her father to Cancer. The devastation of this news was amplified by the news surrounding the aggressive treatment she was facing. In March of 2015 she began a rigorous routine that involved 30 radiation treatments to her entire pelvic region and 198 hours of chemotherapy.
Throughout this initial phase, Cheryl remained positive and optimistic, despite having to be away from home and experiencing the extreme exhaustion that comes with treatment. During a follow-up appointment, it was determined that the cancer had invaded her lymphatic system and that several lymph nodes had tested positive for Squamish Cell Carcinoma. As a result, Cheryl underwent surgery on August 23, 2016 to remove the positive nodes. Although the surgery went well, the recovery was difficult. The hope would be that these were the only nodes affected and that removing them would be the end of her cancer journey. This unfortunately was not the case. On January 24, 2017 Cheryl was informed that the cancer had returned once again. A new lymph node was discovered on the main artery to her right kidney and in an area by her tailbone near where they believed the cancer originated. To top it off she was informed that she has received the maximum dose of radiation and that chemotherapy alone is not effective with this form of cancer.
What does this mean? What are the options? What can be done?
What it means is that the search for treatment must extend outside the realm of traditional therapies. What it means is that treatment will not be covered and that already depleted funds will be stretched even further. What it means is that my proud, courageous and compassionate friend needs help to survive: physically, emotionally and financially.
I am putting this out to those I know and those that know Cheryl and those that maybe understand the fight she is facing. Cheryl lives in Medicine Hat, Alberta where there are currently no options available to her for treatment. Although Alberta Health Care covers the cost of the traditional treatments, it does not cover the costs associated. In the last 2 years, Cheryl has accumulated over $6000.00 in expenses just to receive the treatments she requires to survive. She is unable to work and has been trying to sustain life on the 75% of her income that she receives through her disability. It has been a struggle just to ensure the basics are covered and now she is faced with the option of having to pay thousands of dollars to receive alternative cancer treatments not covered by our health care system or even provided in our country. The alternative treatments she is currently researching are in locations such as Arizona, Texas and Mexico.
Trust me when I say that starting this page has been an absolute last resort as Cheryl is a very proud and independent person. She has depleted all possible sources of income that she has in her efforts to beat this disease and now she needs our help to carry on. I have listed the treatments below with some of the associated costs to try and help people understand what she is facing.
Please help me help Cheryl in her fight. Please consider that any amount will help and please know how much this means to all of us who cherish Cheryl with all our hearts. All funds raised will go directly to supporting Cheryl through her COURAGOUS JOURNEY and updates will be provided through this site so that all those who support Cheryl can stay informed.
I THANK YOU with every part of my being……………..
Alternative Treatment Options & Costs
www.Pyatthealth.com (To get the minimal treatment of 18 hyperthermia treatments with Vit C IV will cost at least 9000.00, but they do not have a hyperthermia chamber, only local and can not administer B17) They also charge for consult $250.00.
Www.westernnaturopathic.com Dr Quan (Consult $125.00 and can offer the local hyperthermia and Vit C IV)
Biological Dentistry (Immune system seriously affected by the state of your mouth. In the last 2 years Cheryl, has lost 6 permanent teeth)
Www.TheTruthAboutCancer.com information on natural treatments for cancer
Www.Hope4cancercancun.com (Cost can range from 13000.00 to 46000.00 for most severe cancer stages). There cost includes accommodations, meals, all treatments and the ability for a support to accompany.
This is another link which will help people understand the huge financial impact cancer has on individuals in Canada, as most people believe that health care in Canada doesn't affect people financially. www.ccanceraction.ca
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Zieman
Organizer
Strathmore, AB
Cheryl Hart
Beneficiary
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