Hi, Friends. If you’re here, you love Cheryl, too. We all want to help. We’d give anything to take this away from her. But we can’t. When we talk to her, we have no real words we feel could really help. Most of all, we want her to feel like the whole person she is, not now simply be defined by her disease. Yet, all we can do is ask how she’s doing and what’s next. We otherwise feel overall helpless and speechless.

She genuinely loves that we reach out, and she wholeheartedly appreciates our ongoing concern. I know how grateful she’s felt for the outpouring of love, thoughtful gifts, and meaningful notes we’ve offered, as she’s shared with us the devastating news of these initial stages of her diagnosis and surgery.

Surgeries, actually. Yes, let’s be reminded that Cheryl has already unexpectedly had to endure two procedures due to an infection arising from the original major operation. Thankfully, she’s healing up better from those, but her care team suspects she’ll have to have additional surgeries in the future. Not before she has to go through extensive chemo & radiation treatments first, however. We think of all that she has before her… all that’s known. All that remains unknown.

Sigh. This whole thing sucks.

Especially after Cheryl has also gone through multiple other major medical issues in her recent past with spinal, hand & wrist, and foot surgeries. None of those were easy, and not without some complications. And now cancer.

So what can we honestly do for her that will make a truly positive and significant impact? Let’s help her with her medical bills and other costs she’s already been hit with. Not to mention all that will unfortunately continue to increase her out of pocket as her situation moves forward. By donating here, we will be able to give something to Cheryl that will immediately give her some relief. Imagine if you’re her and right now you could feel any relief at all in your world. How incomparable would that gift be?

Brian was unfortunately already between jobs before she was diagnosed, and now he’s juggling needing to pursue steady full time employment, but is understandably concerned about Cheryl not having rides to treatment, caregiving support as needed during her process, and so many other things she’ll need.

With our help financially, she can stay as current as possible on bills and hopefully we can give both Brian & Cheryl some essential breathing room they both need now and in the future. We can give Cheryl the opportunity to get the kinds of support she really wants and needs for herself.

Please know when I approached Cheryl & Brian about starting a fundraiser for them, they both needed convincing and time to accept. I explained to them how I know firsthand from caring for and eventually losing my mom to this horrible disease, that the extreme financial burdens almost match the mental and emotional stress of the physical. Everyone thinks about how terrible cancer is, but we don’t always think to also consider the countless copays, non-covered services, necessary home supplies that insurance and community resource groups don’t provide, and personal items for comfort, dignity, and safety. I’m sure you’ve experienced something similar in your own or your loved ones’ lives, so you understand completely. We can all empathize with how these mounting costs are already weighing on The Roloffs. And what that extra layer of stress does to Cher daily.

As their Friends & Family, this is one way we can all band together to throw our loving hearts, prayers, and bestest vibes around Cheryl & Brian. Our generosity, regardless of amount, will remind them that they are never alone in this, and whether it’s one dollar or thousands of them, every penny we collectively give shows them we are truly here for them.

Thank you so much for doing whatever you can and for sharing this everywhere you’re able.

Hugs,

Di