Amara’s Treasure Chest

I am Lisa, Amara’s Mom. I have raised her as a single parent since we lost her father to a heart attack when she was an infant. Amara is a sweet, bright, and ambitious almost 17-year-young woman in Sarasota, Florida who is fighting a rare form of lung cancer; to date it has already cost her half of her lung. PLEASE ASSIST OUR FIGHT TO PROTECT THE REMAINING LIFE FORCE WHICH GOD HAS BLESSED HER SO THAT SHE CAN PURSUE HER DREAMS AND FULFILL GOD’S PLAN FOR HER. You see, in January, during a 7 hour procedure that required opening both sides of her chest, surgeons removed all of the initial tumor mass, but subsequent chest scans and lab studies show persisting activity in critical areas. Amara also remains somewhat symptomatic, although less so than pre-operatively.

Despite how devastating this has been, Amara is fighting back! She is working on regaining lost function in her left arm, developing an entirely new system of learning, even making progress in online studies of Pre-calculus, Spanish and Chinese, since she is no longer able to attend her high school classes.

BUT, Amara is still combatting this invisible intruder. 

Doctors are offering another, "bigger," surgery once she is healed. On the other hand, we are hopeful and are seeking a more cutting edge approach—less invasive, less traumatic, with more widely effective and lasting solutions. Immunotherapy holds the best option; but challenges remain with available clinical trials.

I spend hours daily looking for more answers. Though I’ve had to return to work part-time, I meticulously document and coordinate all ongoing treatment and care; prepare the healthiest food choices for Amara, take her to and advocate for her at various appointments that range from medical monitoring and treatment to positive coaching and therapy. We tackle virtual home schooling, and we treasure the stolen moments of quiet time that are left… to savor life.

We are doing everything we can right now, but notwithstanding our efforts, I am clear that we seriously need help.

Outstanding out of pocket expenses have accumulated now over $20,000, and upcoming alternative treatment and special diet needed for our cherished and phenomenal girl will not be covered by insurance.  Bills continue to mount for current conventional care as well. We want to raise as much as we can to give Amara the best chance at beating this disease she deserves.

I am asking you to contribute to the war chest, and to get others who may want to do a good deed to do so as well. EVERY donation counts, so please donate whatever you are able to today to help me help Amara get well!  I am available to respond to offers of assistance off line if you want to better understand this journey and how your contribution will impact its success.  And finally, THANK YOU, for taking the time and energy to read and consider our request.  We appreciate your ongoing kind thoughts and prayers.

In love and light, Lisa Merritt