Lori Pender Will NOT Surrender!!!
Donation protected
My name is Heather Cleary and I’m raising money for my aunt, Lori Pender, who is 54 years old and received devastating news on September 27, 2017 that she has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma, THE most aggressive form of cancer that begins within the brain.
In early September 2017, Lori started having loss of sensation and movement in her left hand which quickly became intense and moved up to the left side of her face. She became upset and scared and noticed her lip beginning to droop which led her to believe she either had a pinched nerve or a stroke. She immediately went to her primary care doctor who ordered an emergency MRI and noticed "something" in her brain and after reading the results, it was confirmed this was a brain tumor. Her left arm began to go completely numb and a biopsy was ordered right away. Her left leg followed suit. Just a short few weeks after noticing her first symptoms, the neurosurgeon read the diagnosis - Stage 4 Brain Cancer... Glioblastoma.
After seeing many doctors and weighing her options, she decided to start with the least invasive option of proton radiation at Hampton University since it is less damaging to surrounding brain tissue versus whole-brain radiation. They decided against chemotherapy the umethylated gene within her tumor does not usually respond to chemotherapy. She wanted to have a strong immune system to be able to fight the tumor if/when it comes back - the nature of this form of cancer is it almost always returns.
My Uncle Joe says our new famiy motto is from Matthew 19:26. Does not accept statistics. Refusing to accept everything they have read, the doctor's responses and the thought of treatment just to prolong life temporarily, they decided to take research into their own hands and have decided to get treatment in Tijuana, Mexico where patients, if accepted, can participate in a 3-week inpatient program which includes ValloVax, along with other therapies. ValloVax works as a type of immunotherapy that cuts off blood supply to the tumor which has it's own blood vessels.
In trying to stay positive and following where God has led them, my aunt and uncle will be making the long trip from the east coast on November 29th, the week after Thanksgiving and returning the week of Christmas on December 22nd. Not only will this be physically and emotionally wearing on my aunt and family due to not being able to walk or use her arm and confined to a wheelchair, this commitment will also come with a hefty price tag as it is of course not covered by insurance so they will assume all out of pocket costs. I’m hoping that GoFundMe can help take the financial strain off of the famly so my aunt Lori can focus on getting better and being a success story!!
Please prayerfully consider helping us make this miracle a reality. Your generosity and love is appreciated more than you will ever know. Thank you in advance for all of your thoughts, prayers, love and contributions.
- The Pender Family
In early September 2017, Lori started having loss of sensation and movement in her left hand which quickly became intense and moved up to the left side of her face. She became upset and scared and noticed her lip beginning to droop which led her to believe she either had a pinched nerve or a stroke. She immediately went to her primary care doctor who ordered an emergency MRI and noticed "something" in her brain and after reading the results, it was confirmed this was a brain tumor. Her left arm began to go completely numb and a biopsy was ordered right away. Her left leg followed suit. Just a short few weeks after noticing her first symptoms, the neurosurgeon read the diagnosis - Stage 4 Brain Cancer... Glioblastoma.
After seeing many doctors and weighing her options, she decided to start with the least invasive option of proton radiation at Hampton University since it is less damaging to surrounding brain tissue versus whole-brain radiation. They decided against chemotherapy the umethylated gene within her tumor does not usually respond to chemotherapy. She wanted to have a strong immune system to be able to fight the tumor if/when it comes back - the nature of this form of cancer is it almost always returns.
My Uncle Joe says our new famiy motto is from Matthew 19:26. Does not accept statistics. Refusing to accept everything they have read, the doctor's responses and the thought of treatment just to prolong life temporarily, they decided to take research into their own hands and have decided to get treatment in Tijuana, Mexico where patients, if accepted, can participate in a 3-week inpatient program which includes ValloVax, along with other therapies. ValloVax works as a type of immunotherapy that cuts off blood supply to the tumor which has it's own blood vessels.
In trying to stay positive and following where God has led them, my aunt and uncle will be making the long trip from the east coast on November 29th, the week after Thanksgiving and returning the week of Christmas on December 22nd. Not only will this be physically and emotionally wearing on my aunt and family due to not being able to walk or use her arm and confined to a wheelchair, this commitment will also come with a hefty price tag as it is of course not covered by insurance so they will assume all out of pocket costs. I’m hoping that GoFundMe can help take the financial strain off of the famly so my aunt Lori can focus on getting better and being a success story!!
Please prayerfully consider helping us make this miracle a reality. Your generosity and love is appreciated more than you will ever know. Thank you in advance for all of your thoughts, prayers, love and contributions.
- The Pender Family
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Cleary
Organizer
Suffolk, VA
William Pender
Beneficiary
