Marlene's fight- Pancreatic Cancer

Friends and family, and for all whom this reaches,

Please read,

We are writing this about our wonderful Mom who is currently battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. In May 2016, she began having pains every time she would eat. She went to the doctor and was told she had gallstones. In preparation for the surgery they also sent her for an ultrasound which detected a mass in her stomach. She was then sent for a CT scan, and on August 16th we were told the devastating news. She was diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 terminal pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma). Not only is the cancer on her pancreas, but it also has spread to her large intestines, stomach, and lymph nodes, as well as small cysts on her liver and lungs. She was given 8-12 months to live, and that chemotherapy would win her just a small probability of a few more months.

Her cancer is inoperable because it has grown tentacles in and around her major blood vessel. Our family didn’t accept the outcome given to us, and we all began researching and making calls. Our family was told that our only option here in Canada is palliative chemotherapy, which would only slow down the progression of her tumours. Our family was left feeling defeated.  We were then given an ounce of hope after our Moms partner’s co-worker pointed us in the direction of a trial, which is not available in Canada. She immediately flew down with her eldest daughter to a hospital in Washington State. After further testing she was accepted onto the trial, and immediately began chemotherapy as well as the clinical drug. She is currently enduring the biggest battle of her life and is presently on her fifth cycle of treatment.

Although a lot has changed since this journey began 6 months ago, ours Mom’s optimism and fierce determination to live, have not. She is a selfless soul with a heart of gold, and a woman we are so blessed to not only call our mother, but the light of all of our lives. We want more than anything for her not only to survive, but to live.  She has devoted her entire life to us kids and has always put her children first, whether emotionally, physically, or financially. She is a woman who has given so much to everybody else and would never ask for anything in return. Our Mom has always been there to help anyone in need, no matter what the situation was. Even though this journey has been very hard on her, we can always count on her to stay positive, and to pick our family up throughout this difficult time. We could not be more proud of her as she continues to keep an uplifted spirit while facing the fight of her life.

We children, have set up this Go Fund Me account to assist our Mom in her medical expenses so she can remain on the trial. Getting cancer treatment down in the US as a Canadian citizen has been costly for our family. Not only does she have to pay for her treatment, but also her flights to and from Washington every second week, as well as all other daily expenses, costs of living,  prescriptions/medication transportation, etc. Due to her cancer and health, she has been unable to continue working. With a mortgage and other bills it’s been a difficult challenge to balance it all out. We siblings have been doing everything possible to help provide, but it just isn’t enough to help cover the astronomical costs that are incurred whilst participating in the trial.

Our family is very private by nature; and we normally would not ask for help, let alone money, but right now we really need the help of our wonderful family, friends, and generous strangers with crowdfunding. Please join us in our fight so we can beat the odds and the hands we were dealt, and help us in our pursuit of hope for our mother and any person whose lives cancer has touched.  We also ask you keep our mom in your hearts and your prayers. Thank you for all of your support in our hope for a cure. Please share our story and donate what you can; every bit helps.