Sheri's Fight For Survival

Sheri's Story - A Fight For Survival The parents of Sheri were blessed the day their daughter was born 3/21/80. Growing up they could see she was very happy, friendly and smart. Sheri first became ill when she was in the 6th grade. One day her sisters said "Mom/Dad Sheri's eyes look yellow”. And this was the beginning of a long journey for survival for Sheri. After many visits to Doctors; she was referred to Dartmouth Hitchcock CHAD, Lebanon New Hampshire. Sheri’s parents were told she had cancer.  They did not want to believe it. They were told she would need major surgery, a Whipple procedure. She was the 3rd or 4th child to have this type of surgery. The Whipple was mainly done on older adults at that time. Her surgery was 16 hours long. Once completed the Doctor came out all sweaty and exhausted. He told Sheri's Parents that he had removed 2 large tumors that were as hard as a rock. While removing the tumors he also had to take 90% of her pancreas, all of the gallbladder, 50% of her stomach and some of the intestines. The doctor told them he had to reconstruct her inner anatomy and they were no longer in their normal places. Her survival was questionable but he could tell Sheri is a fighter and how well she did in surgery. After surgery the doctor also told Sheri’s parents that she was diagnosed with Adult Fibrosis Pancreatitis in an adolescent. They   took a biopsy to check for cancer. After about 10 days her the results were in and Sheri was cancer free. Several battles were won. Her parents were also told that there may be a good chance she could not have children. Sheri was hospitalized for about 1 year through recovery at Dartmouth Hitchcock. This became her new home. She continued her schooling in hospital and became very well liked and admired by the complete staff. In everyone's eyes she was a miracle. Staff celebrated by giving her a fart party, as they called it for that big event. She had a birthday in hospital that staff and her parents arranged. Staff also told Sheri they were having some young local boys from a hockey team come visit her. Sheri was excited that the boys were coming. Staff arranged for Sheri to have her hair done and she wore the best hospital PJ's they had. OH Boy! What a surprize Sheri got when her room filled up with the entire hockey team all in uniform. They spent the afternoon with her. They made her laugh and the smiles on her face were ear to ear. It was a sight worth seeing. She was happy and smiled for weeks to come. Thank you Guys and Staff! There was another story to tell about visit from a whole squad of firefighters that came barreling through her hospital door when her father set off fire alarm from taking a hot shower. Although it made everyone laugh and talk about it for a week or so, it was not as exciting as the hockey team's visit. To continue with Sheri's story in the 7th grade she was chosen to be Class Secretary. In the 8th grade she was elected to Class Vice President. She was also Chief Editor for the Class Yearbook. What a smart kid. Sheri had many interest growing up. She played the clarinet, was a brownie, and a girl scout. She also played softball. You would never have known she was a sick child. Sheri is not a quitter. Happy to say as a young adult she had two boys that she raised by herself. Sheri cherishes them and does not want them to lose their Mom. And so continues the fight. She became diabetic about 17 years ago with the birth of her first son. Remember she only has 10% of her pancreas. Also in the last few years her kidneys started to fail. She has gone to stage 4 Kidney Disease. Kidneys stopped working for about 5 months and went on dialysis until her numbers improved. All the time Sheri spent in hospitals she became interested in helping others. She work as a Research Assistant at a medical research facility. Then she became a Medical Assistant, a Phlebotomist and a Lab Technician. She was also a Preschool Teacher and a Teacher’s Assistant. Remember when she was in 6th grade they also removed 50% of her stomach during Whipple procedure. Well as a young adult she also developed Gastroparesis and was in and out of hospitals. Even with all of that going on Sheri still steadfast with her desire to help others. She was a Lead Singer for a church choirs for 4 years until she could not keep up with it due to her condition. She also helped feed the homeless, helped cleaning houses for the elderly and sick. She worked and managed estate sales for families in need. Even while hospitalized Sheri reached out to an elderly woman in the next bed whom was being released.  While the hospital nursing staff was preparing her for release, the elderly woman said she had no food at home and asked for a sling for her arm. Hospital staff told the elderly woman that the pharmacy had already been closed for the night. Sheri said "Dad get my purse please. I have $20.00 dollars in my wallet; get it and please give it to her". The emotions that poured out from the staff and patient was overwhelming. They were all in tears looking at how sick Sheri was and still she wanted to do what she could for this lady in need. The staff before you knew it raided the pantry and came in with a couple of bags of canned goods for the elderly woman. To this day that roommate and Sheri are still friends. Sheri still has a lot to give and continues with her fight.  She is fighting for her survival and to be there for her boys. Sheri recently was admitted back into the hospital to stabilize her condition. While being treated doctors discovered she has Liver Disease. The only cure for this is a liver transplant. Sheri continues to work on getting stronger. Each day is a blessing, she gets up every morning and does some exercises in her hospital room. She has dialysis 3 times a week and goes for walks with her walker in hospital hallways, always escorted; smiling and making friends. Each day she walks a little more than the previous day. Sheri is need of a Multi-Organ Transplant. All your help and prayers is greatly appreciated.