Ann Wicke's Medical Fund

Many of you know my dear friend as Ann Bodnar Wicke.  Even more of you know her as "Pixie", a nickname her dad gave her as a child.  If you know Pixie, she is your friend.  She is the friend that knows and remembers everything about your children, family members and even your pets.  She follows up every special occasion with just the right Hallmark card.  She loves  her children, loves the beach, hates to drive in the snow and is one of the strongest women I know.

In the past 3 years, Ann and her children, Erika and Brian have been through more than any family should have to go through in a lifetime.  During this time, Ann lost her beloved husband, Ron, to cancer.  Throughout Ron's illness, she was strong and brave, for him and her children.  Sadly, Ron lost his battle with cancer on May 12, 2012 the day before Erika's graduation from college.  Together she and her children mourned this terrible loss while at the same time growing stronger. 

Two years ago, Ann  tested positive for the BRCA1 gene.  She was tested because her mom died of ovarian cancer at a very young age.  She unfortunately tested positive.  She immediately underwent a complete hysterectomy and a double mastectomy to lower her risk of breast and ovarian cancer.  Once again, she persevered through this difficult and painful time with the love and support of her children, family and countless friends.  

In the last several weeks, Ann was having some stomach issues that many of us assumed were related to the stress she was under.  The stress related to being a young widow and trying to make ends meet on her own. The loss of her cherished step mother Anne as well as Ron's dad, Fred.

She recently left her job at an OBGYN office.   Although she hated to leave her friends and patients she found a new job in a medical practice in Norwalk, closer to home. Who better to greet you as you walk into a doctor's office than Pixie! 

Sadly, we recently found out that Ann's stomach pain was not related to stress, but to Peritoneal cancer, a cancer closely related to ovarian cancer. Within 10 days of getting this devastating diagnosis, she has already begun chemotherapy which doctors hope will shrink the tumors before she has surgery this summer.  Once again, Pixie and her children are forced to be strong as they face another battle.  Ann hopes to continue working  as much as she can throughout her treatment.  However, her income alone does not cover the many expenses that come along with this horrible disease. Unfortunately in her new position, she does not have any short or long term disability insurance which makes her situation that much more difficult.

Please consider donating to help defray the costs that Ann will endure over the next several months.  On behalf of Ann/Pixie's family and many friends, I thank you in advance for your genorosity and most of all your thoughts and prayers.