In sickness and in health.  My brother Mark took this vow to a level beyond what most people do when his world was turned upside down with Lisa’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis.  Sadly, this was just three months after she celebrated her five-year milestone of being cancer free.  Unfortunately, the cancer - originally in her head and neck - had metastasized to her bones.  And so began the first dip in a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows.   As we soon found, bone cancer is one of the most painful cancers. It’s debilitating.  It robs you of your energy and your ability to take on any task outside of bed.  And Lisa, trying to stay strong through the pain, always with a smile on her face and a thankful word to share, lived for her good days; whether it was visiting with family and friends or simply having the energy to just walk around the neighborhood.
 

Throughout this entire process, Lisa maintained her focus as a mom and wife.  She never stopped worrying about Maddi and Cam, ensuring they were setup for success if and when the worst happened and she couldn’t be there to help them through life’s ups and downs.  Regardless of her pain or having the weight of the world on her shoulders, she was there to support friends and family, maintaining her strong listening skills and giving solid advice.  She was a loving sister and sister in law, constantly putting family’s needs above her own.  And she loved. She loved everyone around her and made sure they knew just how much she cared.  Despite the cancer, despite the pain and despite the grim news she repeatedly got from her doctors, Lisa stayed positive, emanating hope that was contagious.

And all the while, Mark was her rock. With accumulating medical bills, his job was put on the back burner, but Mark did not leave Lisa's side for the past six months. He took care of her at home, managed her medication, drove her to the hospital multiple times each week, stayed with her when she was admitted for extended periods of time.  Caring for Lisa and the kids was Mark's number one priority.  When you are fighting for life, you put your trust in the team of the amazing doctors and nurses; you do anything and everything they suggest. Initially, there were countless tests ordered to pinpoint the origination of Lisa’s tumors and then more tests administered to determine the best treatment plan. Sadly, our health care system doesn’t always see eye to eye with that plan, and there are a number of procedures not covered by insurance.  And the worst part, Mark wouldn’t know this until he got a bill in the mail with a letter apologizing for the inconvenience, but still requesting a hefty payment of thousands of dollars. These letters came in droves.  Not once or twice, but multiple times. And sadly, are still coming.

So, after six months of tests, extended hospital stays, medications and treatment, Mark is now in the position of discovering just how much insurance will cover, or worse yet, not cover.  As a family, we want Mark, Maddi and Cam to start healing and moving forward, focusing on the wonderful wife and mom Lisa was.  With this, I’m asking for your help to alleviate this financial pressure he is carrying. Your money will go directly towards the medical costs, allowing Mark and the family to stay in their home for at least the foreseeable future, keep the kids on a normal schedule with activities- which is so important for them right now. 

While this has been a terrible journey for all of Lisa’s family and friends, I hope you join me in honoring her memory – find ways to keep her spirit alive, fulfilling her final wishes to take care of Mark and her family as they maneuver through this uncharted new world that is supposed to be their normal.   Mark is not one to readily accept help, so I took it upon myself as his sister and friend to start this campaign. On behalf of all of our family, I thank you for your help and generosity.