Cheryls long journey!

Not too long after Christmas, our close friend Cheryl Ehret received some life altering news.  Cheryl realised early December something was very off.  She went to a clinic and was immediately scheduled for a colonoscopy followed up with a rush biopsy at the Rocky View Hospital; Cheryl was told that she has stage 3-4 rectum cancer, with the possibility of it spreading to the lymph nodes.  As you can imagine, this is not what a 47 yr old-otherwise healthy- mother of 3 was expecting to hear.  Life Changes...NOW!The good news is that colon cancer (can be) a treatable cancer and Cheryl is going to kick it in the butt!  Cheryl has such a positive attitude and is ready to put up a fight in order to get back to enjoying life and being a happy mom; wife; sister; friend co-worker and overall human being.  Cheryl is well know and has helped raise many of our communities children since she has been operating  her day home for 20+yrs.  To know Cheryl is to Love her!

The bad news is she will undergo an incredibly aggressive treatment plan.

Along with having an ileostomy bag, (yes, it's what you think it is), surgically attached to her side, she has also had a port put in her chest to administer 8 weeks, (4 hrs daily),of chemotherapy starting February 14th (Happy Valentines Day)!  The plan is for the doctors to monitor the size of the tumor while in treatment.  After her first round of chemotherapy, Cheryl will endure 5 wks of daily radiation followed up with extensive surgery to remove the tumor.   At this time she will  require at least 6-8 wks of rest before she will endure her second 8 wks of Chemotherapy .

Her journey will bring her to Summer 2018...most likely longer.

More bad news...there are costs associated with the treatments, including medical costs and loss of wages.  While at the beginning of her journey her daughters (Alicia and Breanna) - God Bless them- are going to try and keep her day home operating...until her radiation begins.  Starting April/May she will have no income or benefits that most of us have access to; such as short and long term disability Critical Illness etc.  The small amount she receives from her part time job as a supervisor at a public school will not even come close to what she is going to need to move through this nightmare.  It is our understanding that cancer patients typically undergoing this treatment do not work while doing so, so her time off from the day home (The bulk of her income), could be even longer than expected???
Speaking from and as Cheryl's advocates, we feel that Cheryl will need as much time as possible without any, financial burdens, to support her on her journey to recovery.

Cheryl needs our support emotionally, mentally and...financially.  We feel, allowing her to focus on her "healing", will influence and shift her journey in a very positive manner.

It will be difficult for Cheryl to accept any help due to the fact that she is used to being the one helping others.  A Giver by nature!

WE ALL KNOW that she would be at the door ready, in a heartbeat, to support any one going through a similar situation; whether they be a friend; family member; co-worker; neighbor or a stranger she just met.

Please help us help her WIN this fight!

Sincerely Cheryl's advocates.