Hello, dear family & friends!!

As some of you may be aware, my sister, Cheri was diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer in July of 2018. After weeks of chemo, radiation and the removal of twenty-thirty lymph nodes, she has remained cancer-free, but was left with neuropathy and a debilitating condition called lymphedema. Since the lymphatic system is a critical part of our immune system through the removal of toxins, Cheri has a heightened risk of infection and sepsis. Because a significant portion of her lymphatic system has been interrupted (removal of lymph nodes)- rather like a potion of a water-way being blocked/dammed- the lymphedema causes unpredictable and serious swelling of her lower limbs, especially her left side. The edema and skin integrity must be carefully managed to prevent infection, particularly the associated condition called cellulitis. She had planned to undergo corrective bypass surgery to mitigate the lymphedema, but this procedure has been delayed due to repeated bouts of cellulitis, setting her back weeks.

Stress and other events have surely contributed to this situation; not only the illness itself, but the conditions under which she currently lives.

After her own diagnosis and treatment, Cheri's ex-husband and father of her two children, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor with widespread metastases. He lost his battle a few months later.  This family has literally been through hell, and Cheri is trying to recover for her kids who have lost so much.  

The most urgent need right now is a private, safe, healthy housing where she can recover without needing to relocate frequently.  Cheri has essentially been homeless since last March.  Although she was not “on the street”, per se, she ended up in a situation where she spent the hardest part of the lockdown sleeping on a mat/futon on someone’s living room floor, in an abusive environment. Now, she is in an Airbnb…but cannot consistently come up with the funds for rent, food, and incidentals. "Managing" the lymphedema is expensive, and requires constant application of topicals to prevent splitting of the stretched skin, compression hose, and leg pumps.

All this is compounded by an auto accident in January, 2020, when a LYFT driver hit Cheri while she was driving back home after posting flyers for her private restorative Yoga training business that she was trying to start-up. This incident further exacerbated these conditions, and crushed her abdominal tissue and damaged her already fragile lymphatic system. Of course, then COVID struck, and all elective (or non- emergency) procedures were put on hold.

On top of everything, Cheri, recovering from cancer and rendered disabled by this lymphedema condition, receives only a few hundred from SSI, and other social services have disqualified her or reduced her benefits over the past several months, despite her appeals. Cheri's full-time job is managing pain and lymphedema; she spends much of her daily life managing lymphedema to stave off infection and to keep the swelling under control so that she can walk.

Emotionally, Cheri has lost hope. She’s exhausted, discouraged and sick. The handful of people who have been involved in helping are reaching a point of having exhausted resources over the past two years.

It really does take a village! So, I'm reaching out to other friends and family who might be able to help in some way. Cheri is neither willing or able to reach out at this point, and the situation is becoming urgent.

Her Airbnb rent is $1,900 per month right now, and I'm trying to find something long term for less, but the right place hasn't turned up yet. I want to start a fund to get her through the next eight to twelve months. After that, the hope is that the lawsuit that has been initiated against Lyft will set her up with a source of funds in the form of a structured trust.

Please keep this situation in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for anything you can contribute!!