Help The Cooks Crush Cancer
Donation protected
For those of you that know the Cooks, you know that Steve, Sheri, Madison and CJ are an amazing family that thrives on family adventures, outdoors and good friendships.
On February 8th of this year, the Cooks were given the devastating news that Sheri had been diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer (adenocarcinoma).
Here is Sheri’s Story:
Sheri grew up in Roscoe, IL and graduated from Hononegah High School.
She married Steve in 2010 as well as started her photography business the same year. Since following her passion of photography Sheri has captured thousands of images in nature as well as families locally and throughout the country.
Sheri is an amazing mother and wife. She is that Mom that always puts her family first, above and beyond anything else. And if you have spent any amount of time with Sheri, you know she is always up for a family camping trip, hike or any other adventure that may come their way!
In 2014 the Cooks embarked on a new life adventure and relocated to Southern California to be closer to the ocean and the mountains, as well as show the kids a different part of the country. Upon arriving in California they started taking advantage of the beautiful weather and landscape. The entire family began hiking and exploring almost immediately.
It did not take long for Sheri to fall in love with the mountains and the challenge of hiking to the highest peaks in the country. Sheri has completed the "Six Pack of Peaks" as well as Mount Whitney in 2016 and is part of many hiking and camping groups. Her passions are traveling, photography and hiking.
It’s now time however for US as friends, family and even strangers to help Sheri MOVE MOUNTAINS and not only fight cancer, but BEAT IT!
Where This Journey Began:
Sheri started having chronic upper and lower back pain in spring of 2017. She saw two chiropractors, a deep-tissue massage therapist and sought out many other non-pharmaceutical treatments. After successfully correcting the upper back issue, the Cooks felt as if they were making progress. Sheri was still hiking, just not as regularly as the year before. The pain was also non-local, so the doctors assumed it was sciatica or something nerve related.
In the summer and fall of 2017 the family took short vacations to Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sedona AZ and even across the country back to Rockford for a visit with family and friends.
The pain however continued to escalate and reached its worse point in November 2017. In January 2018 while Sheri was in for a routine check-up, a swollen lymph node was discovered. A biopsy was then performed and found to be cancerous. After further investigation, the cell was determined to most likely be a mutated colon cancer cell.
A colonoscopy was performed and another biopsy of the mass was taken. The biopsy confirmed the physician’s hypothesis that Sheri’s cancer started in the colon and had metastasized into her liver and lymph nodes. Her liver is enlarged due to the spread and is likely the cause of her lower back pain. Her diagnosis is Stage IV Colon Cancer (adenocarcinoma).
What’s Next And How Can We Help?
Upon hearing of Sheri's first cancer diagnosis on February 8th, Steve immediately jumped into the fight and began researching both traditional treatment options as well as different clinical trials. His research quickly led him to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Steve’s positive attitude and hope was further bolstered when he found countless stories of people with similar diagnosis’s that have beat the odds or extended the amount and quality of life during their personal journeys through aggressive treatments at the Mayo Clinic.
Steve immediately registered Sheri for the Mayo clinic on Feb 9th and began the process of hopefully being accepted. After reviewing Sheri's records, physicians accepted her. Steve and Sheri are scheduled to meet with a team of physicans, oncologists and specialiasts and begin her journey to recovery on March 29-30th, 2018 (now April 5th-6th due to scheduling and new insurance coverage).
It’s a blessing that the Cooks have been accepted to the Mayo Clinic and will be treated by the best oncologists and physicians in the world.
While this is a blessing; the medical costs, travel expenses and overnight stays will undoubtedly add up quickly. Not to mention, before beginning treatment the Cooks also did an expedited cross-country move back to Illinois in order to be closer to family and friends.
No family fighting this type of battle should have to stress over finances and should instead be focused on healing and recovery.
Please join other friends and family of the Cooks and consider donating to help us ensure that this amazing family of Steve, Sheri, Madison and CJ can place 100% of their focus on what’s most important, beating this disease.
Through continued prayers, messages and generosity, let’s help make cancer merely a chapter in the Cook’s life and not the story.
On February 8th of this year, the Cooks were given the devastating news that Sheri had been diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer (adenocarcinoma).
Here is Sheri’s Story:
Sheri grew up in Roscoe, IL and graduated from Hononegah High School.
She married Steve in 2010 as well as started her photography business the same year. Since following her passion of photography Sheri has captured thousands of images in nature as well as families locally and throughout the country.
Sheri is an amazing mother and wife. She is that Mom that always puts her family first, above and beyond anything else. And if you have spent any amount of time with Sheri, you know she is always up for a family camping trip, hike or any other adventure that may come their way!
In 2014 the Cooks embarked on a new life adventure and relocated to Southern California to be closer to the ocean and the mountains, as well as show the kids a different part of the country. Upon arriving in California they started taking advantage of the beautiful weather and landscape. The entire family began hiking and exploring almost immediately.
It did not take long for Sheri to fall in love with the mountains and the challenge of hiking to the highest peaks in the country. Sheri has completed the "Six Pack of Peaks" as well as Mount Whitney in 2016 and is part of many hiking and camping groups. Her passions are traveling, photography and hiking.
It’s now time however for US as friends, family and even strangers to help Sheri MOVE MOUNTAINS and not only fight cancer, but BEAT IT!
Where This Journey Began:
Sheri started having chronic upper and lower back pain in spring of 2017. She saw two chiropractors, a deep-tissue massage therapist and sought out many other non-pharmaceutical treatments. After successfully correcting the upper back issue, the Cooks felt as if they were making progress. Sheri was still hiking, just not as regularly as the year before. The pain was also non-local, so the doctors assumed it was sciatica or something nerve related.
In the summer and fall of 2017 the family took short vacations to Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sedona AZ and even across the country back to Rockford for a visit with family and friends.
The pain however continued to escalate and reached its worse point in November 2017. In January 2018 while Sheri was in for a routine check-up, a swollen lymph node was discovered. A biopsy was then performed and found to be cancerous. After further investigation, the cell was determined to most likely be a mutated colon cancer cell.
A colonoscopy was performed and another biopsy of the mass was taken. The biopsy confirmed the physician’s hypothesis that Sheri’s cancer started in the colon and had metastasized into her liver and lymph nodes. Her liver is enlarged due to the spread and is likely the cause of her lower back pain. Her diagnosis is Stage IV Colon Cancer (adenocarcinoma).
What’s Next And How Can We Help?
Upon hearing of Sheri's first cancer diagnosis on February 8th, Steve immediately jumped into the fight and began researching both traditional treatment options as well as different clinical trials. His research quickly led him to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Steve’s positive attitude and hope was further bolstered when he found countless stories of people with similar diagnosis’s that have beat the odds or extended the amount and quality of life during their personal journeys through aggressive treatments at the Mayo Clinic.
Steve immediately registered Sheri for the Mayo clinic on Feb 9th and began the process of hopefully being accepted. After reviewing Sheri's records, physicians accepted her. Steve and Sheri are scheduled to meet with a team of physicans, oncologists and specialiasts and begin her journey to recovery on March 29-30th, 2018 (now April 5th-6th due to scheduling and new insurance coverage).
It’s a blessing that the Cooks have been accepted to the Mayo Clinic and will be treated by the best oncologists and physicians in the world.
While this is a blessing; the medical costs, travel expenses and overnight stays will undoubtedly add up quickly. Not to mention, before beginning treatment the Cooks also did an expedited cross-country move back to Illinois in order to be closer to family and friends.
No family fighting this type of battle should have to stress over finances and should instead be focused on healing and recovery.
Please join other friends and family of the Cooks and consider donating to help us ensure that this amazing family of Steve, Sheri, Madison and CJ can place 100% of their focus on what’s most important, beating this disease.
Through continued prayers, messages and generosity, let’s help make cancer merely a chapter in the Cook’s life and not the story.
Organizer
Jeremy Enke
Organizer
Roscoe, IL
