Medical and Living Expenses
Donation protected
On January 10, 2014 after months of feeling run down, and years of chronic stomach issues, I was diagnoised with Stage 4 Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma. This is a very rare cancer and very little is known about it. It is considered a woman's gynecological cancer, but in a very small percentage affects men. I came to this diagnosis after I went to my doctor stating I was very short of breath. A chest X-Ray showed fluid in my right lung. Two liters of fluid was drained and the fluid was sent off for testing......which later came back positive for cancer cells.
My name is Suzanne Berglund and I am 56 years old. My husband, John and I have been married for 24 years. We have two sons, Levi age 15 and Mason age 23. John and the boys are truly the loves of my life.
John works as a maintenance supervisor for a beautiful resort in Door County. Before my illness I worked as an estate settlement paralegal. My oldest son Mason works full-time for a local screen printing company, and my youngest son Levi will return to high school in the Fall. Both boys are avid musicians and enjoy skateboarding. John is also a lover of music and anything car related. Me, I like my small quiltings, beadwork, daydreaming and reading.
Shortly after being diagnoised with Peritoneal Cancer I was laid off from my job ... told to just take care of myself and get better. Since that time I have been told that my lay off is permanent and I have applied for disability. The lay-off resulted in losing my health insurance. I have been able to purchase health insurance but I stuggle with the co-payments, two batches of deductibles (because I had to switch insurance companies half way through), as well as an ever changing supply of prescription
medications and copays. Needless to say the medical bills continue to stack up.
Since my diagnosis, I have had my lungs drained of two litres of fluid on three occassions, spent almost three weeks in the hospital, have had two major surgeries and one minor surgery to install a cathedar/port and had pneumonia. Additionally I have gone through two - nine week sessions of chemotherapy which has now brought me to ...."Complete Remission"....
... One of the damn things about Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma is it doesn't stay in remission. It's a given it will come back and then all the treatments, all the medications and all the struggles come back again.
In the meantime, I have signed on for a clinical trial. This is a new type of cancer drug which would work on prevention of reoccurence in Peritoneal or Ovarian Cancer. The trial is worldwide and tests about 344 subjects.
If you would like to help please remember no donation is too small!
All donations are appreciated from the bottom of my heart. <3
Hugs & Love,
Suzanne Berglund and Family
My name is Suzanne Berglund and I am 56 years old. My husband, John and I have been married for 24 years. We have two sons, Levi age 15 and Mason age 23. John and the boys are truly the loves of my life.
John works as a maintenance supervisor for a beautiful resort in Door County. Before my illness I worked as an estate settlement paralegal. My oldest son Mason works full-time for a local screen printing company, and my youngest son Levi will return to high school in the Fall. Both boys are avid musicians and enjoy skateboarding. John is also a lover of music and anything car related. Me, I like my small quiltings, beadwork, daydreaming and reading.
Shortly after being diagnoised with Peritoneal Cancer I was laid off from my job ... told to just take care of myself and get better. Since that time I have been told that my lay off is permanent and I have applied for disability. The lay-off resulted in losing my health insurance. I have been able to purchase health insurance but I stuggle with the co-payments, two batches of deductibles (because I had to switch insurance companies half way through), as well as an ever changing supply of prescription
medications and copays. Needless to say the medical bills continue to stack up.
Since my diagnosis, I have had my lungs drained of two litres of fluid on three occassions, spent almost three weeks in the hospital, have had two major surgeries and one minor surgery to install a cathedar/port and had pneumonia. Additionally I have gone through two - nine week sessions of chemotherapy which has now brought me to ...."Complete Remission"....
... One of the damn things about Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma is it doesn't stay in remission. It's a given it will come back and then all the treatments, all the medications and all the struggles come back again.
In the meantime, I have signed on for a clinical trial. This is a new type of cancer drug which would work on prevention of reoccurence in Peritoneal or Ovarian Cancer. The trial is worldwide and tests about 344 subjects.
If you would like to help please remember no donation is too small!
All donations are appreciated from the bottom of my heart. <3
Hugs & Love,
Suzanne Berglund and Family
Organizer
Suzanne Kuemmet Berglund
Organizer
Sturgeon Bay, WI
