Help Katie Weitz Kick Rare Cancer!
Donation protected
Our friend and colleague, Katie Weitz, has just been diagnosed with PMP, a rare form of cancer, and she needs our support to reduce the financial burden of her impending journey.
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare cancer that starts in the appendix. The cause of PMP isn’t known. The main treatments for PMP are surgery and chemotherapy.
PMP makes a jelly-like liquid called mucin, a type of cancer that spreads into the space inside the peritoneum (layer of tissue that lines the abdomen). As the mucin builds up it puts pressure on the bowel and other organs.
Katie is awaiting a long surgery and a longer recovery. In the beginning of October, she will be undergoing a 12-hour surgery marathon with 2 Cancer specialists in Vancouver. They will have to completely remove at least five organs, and parts of other organs, then bathe Katie’s body cavity with liquid chemotherapy, before sewing her back together.
Following that, she will spend at least two weeks in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Vancouver General Hospital, on feeding tubes while being carefully monitored.
The surgery and recovery is a painful endurance test; however, miraculously, this specific treatment protocol for PMP is very successful. Katie anticipates making a full recovery, with ongoing regular checkups with the Specialists in Vancouver for years to come.
In an effort to alleviate the financial burden and as much stress as possible for Katie and her young family as they go to hell and back, we are coordinating a fundraising campaign for her. She will need a substantial amount of time off of work, her husband will need to be able to leave work and support her through the surgery, and she will require numerous trips to Vancouver over the coming months and years. This means gas, food, hotels, and additional care for her family at home.
We offer you, as a friend, the opportunity to give back to Katie. Anyone who knows her, knows that normally it’s Katie giving of herself to everyone else, at work, at home, and in the community.
For example, over the past six years, Katie has not only sat on one but three different parent committees (2 school PAC, District PAC), but she has also taken on leadership roles on each of these committees, often concurrently – treasurer, vice-chair, chair, etc.
If you’ve had the pleasure of working with Katie, you know that it’s the same story in the office environment. She takes the time to go the extra mile, for colleagues, clients, and the company.
Whatever it takes, Katie is always the first person to step in and help out. So, in return, it’s time for Katie to be on the receiving end of the love and support she has shown so many others.
Please contribute what you can to this young family to help them through this immensely challenging time. And even if you can’t contribute money at the moment, then please take the time to wish Katie well.
Thanks in advance for a little financial stretch, it will be massively appreciated by Katie, her husband and their family.
For more information on PMP, please click here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/pseudomyxoma-peritonei-pmp
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare cancer that starts in the appendix. The cause of PMP isn’t known. The main treatments for PMP are surgery and chemotherapy.
PMP makes a jelly-like liquid called mucin, a type of cancer that spreads into the space inside the peritoneum (layer of tissue that lines the abdomen). As the mucin builds up it puts pressure on the bowel and other organs.
Katie is awaiting a long surgery and a longer recovery. In the beginning of October, she will be undergoing a 12-hour surgery marathon with 2 Cancer specialists in Vancouver. They will have to completely remove at least five organs, and parts of other organs, then bathe Katie’s body cavity with liquid chemotherapy, before sewing her back together.
Following that, she will spend at least two weeks in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Vancouver General Hospital, on feeding tubes while being carefully monitored.
The surgery and recovery is a painful endurance test; however, miraculously, this specific treatment protocol for PMP is very successful. Katie anticipates making a full recovery, with ongoing regular checkups with the Specialists in Vancouver for years to come.
In an effort to alleviate the financial burden and as much stress as possible for Katie and her young family as they go to hell and back, we are coordinating a fundraising campaign for her. She will need a substantial amount of time off of work, her husband will need to be able to leave work and support her through the surgery, and she will require numerous trips to Vancouver over the coming months and years. This means gas, food, hotels, and additional care for her family at home.
We offer you, as a friend, the opportunity to give back to Katie. Anyone who knows her, knows that normally it’s Katie giving of herself to everyone else, at work, at home, and in the community.
For example, over the past six years, Katie has not only sat on one but three different parent committees (2 school PAC, District PAC), but she has also taken on leadership roles on each of these committees, often concurrently – treasurer, vice-chair, chair, etc.
If you’ve had the pleasure of working with Katie, you know that it’s the same story in the office environment. She takes the time to go the extra mile, for colleagues, clients, and the company.
Whatever it takes, Katie is always the first person to step in and help out. So, in return, it’s time for Katie to be on the receiving end of the love and support she has shown so many others.
Please contribute what you can to this young family to help them through this immensely challenging time. And even if you can’t contribute money at the moment, then please take the time to wish Katie well.
Thanks in advance for a little financial stretch, it will be massively appreciated by Katie, her husband and their family.
For more information on PMP, please click here:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/pseudomyxoma-peritonei-pmp
Organizer and beneficiary
Sara Bear
Organizer
Penticton, BC
Katie Weitz
Beneficiary
