Sherawn Stewart Cancer Support
Donation protected
Friday, April 24th, 2020, Sherawn was diagnosed with grade 3, HER2 negative, invasive ductal carcinoma that has spread into her lymph nodes. Treatment for this diagnosis will include chemotherapy, surgical removal (best guess right now is a breast-conserving surgery aka lumpectomy) followed by radiation treatments. Our best estimates place treatment ending toward the end of 2020. While there is no way to say with 100% certainty what the outcome will be, survival rates for this type of breast cancer are very good. The treatment process is going to be brutal to navigate though because of how fast cancer has developed and spread. Sherawn had a mammogram in November 2019 that showed no sign of cancer. Aggressive cancer calls for aggressive treatment.
We are blessed to have so many people asking how they can help but because we don't yet know exactly what this is going to look like, we thought it best to just start with a go-fund-me campaign. (We were flat out told by a few people to start this.) We appreciate the idea of meal trains but because of dietary needs, it really isn't something that works for us. We know many people who serve this way, and we are so sorry.
How we came to our goal...
Because we are looking at this from the beginning of the process there are many unknowns. Much of what we are estimating is from reported national averages for the type of cancer Sherawn has. Most of the costs we have will be covered by insurance with an estimate of $140k. Our cost of out of pocket is estimated at $10k. Indirect costs (things not directly associated with a medical bill) average between $5-10k and these are the costs we will start seeing first. Sherawn is a self-employed massage therapist, and we know she will be needing to take time off from work for much of 2020. It is too early to put a number on this, and really the hardest part of this, even over the financial hit, will be more on Sherawn's mental health. Since she is blessed to have so many clients that she genuinely loves and cares about, watching her have to cancel scheduled appointments has been incredibly difficult. (I am going to be a protective husband and ask that you please pray for her in that!!)
As we go, our total costs will most likely fluctuate but we wanted to have a starting point. We know things are tight all over with the impact Covid-19 is having on everyone, so we wanted to start from the lower end of the estimates. If you cannot give it is totally ok!!! We don't want anyone feeling guilty and certainly don't want anyone giving at their own detriment.
We know God will get us through this and THANK YOU for your continued prayers and encouragement!!
You are loved!!
Nate, Sherawn & Felicia
We are blessed to have so many people asking how they can help but because we don't yet know exactly what this is going to look like, we thought it best to just start with a go-fund-me campaign. (We were flat out told by a few people to start this.) We appreciate the idea of meal trains but because of dietary needs, it really isn't something that works for us. We know many people who serve this way, and we are so sorry.
How we came to our goal...
Because we are looking at this from the beginning of the process there are many unknowns. Much of what we are estimating is from reported national averages for the type of cancer Sherawn has. Most of the costs we have will be covered by insurance with an estimate of $140k. Our cost of out of pocket is estimated at $10k. Indirect costs (things not directly associated with a medical bill) average between $5-10k and these are the costs we will start seeing first. Sherawn is a self-employed massage therapist, and we know she will be needing to take time off from work for much of 2020. It is too early to put a number on this, and really the hardest part of this, even over the financial hit, will be more on Sherawn's mental health. Since she is blessed to have so many clients that she genuinely loves and cares about, watching her have to cancel scheduled appointments has been incredibly difficult. (I am going to be a protective husband and ask that you please pray for her in that!!)
As we go, our total costs will most likely fluctuate but we wanted to have a starting point. We know things are tight all over with the impact Covid-19 is having on everyone, so we wanted to start from the lower end of the estimates. If you cannot give it is totally ok!!! We don't want anyone feeling guilty and certainly don't want anyone giving at their own detriment.
We know God will get us through this and THANK YOU for your continued prayers and encouragement!!
You are loved!!
Nate, Sherawn & Felicia
Organizer
Nathan Stewart
Organizer
Duluth, MN
