Glennis's Fight Against Ovarian Cancer

Hi, my name is Mary, and I'm raising funds to help my mom, Glennis Ferguson, fight ovarian cancer.

Six weeks ago, I rushed my mom to the emergency room because she had numbness in her leg and felt like she was having a stroke. When we arrived at the hospital, she was taken into the exam room and laid down on a stretcher. My father and I noticed that my mom's stomach was more swollen than usual. When the doctor examined her, he mentioned she might have a pinched nerve or the onset of shingles. We alerted him about her swollen abdomen, and he recommended seeing her family doctor before sending her home.

My parents made an appointment with their family doctor, who ordered an ultrasound of my mom's abdomen. During this time, her abdomen continued to swell. The ultrasound revealed concerning spots, so the doctor ordered an urgent CT scan.

While waiting for the CT scan appointment, my mom's abdomen grew three times its size, her appetite declined, and fatigue set in. By mid-week, she was barely eating and struggled to complete her aqua fit class at the YMCA. The next day, I rushed her back to the ER at St. Catharines General.

After 10.5 hours of waiting, the doctor revealed that she had masses in her abdomen, which appeared to be ovarian cancer. The evening before, she had also developed a rash on her side, which turned out to be shingles. She was started on medication immediately to treat it.

Unfortunately, Glennis has remained in the hospital since May 8th. She has not been able to be released due to having natremia (low sodium levels) and ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen due to tumor burden). To date, my mom has had 10 liters drained from her abdomen and will need more draining as necessary.

Mom started her first round of chemotherapy yesterday. She faces three more rounds before she can be considered for surgery at the Jurvinski Hospital to remove the masses. There is an 80% chance that the chemo will work to reduce the fluid buildup and shrink the cancer. Until we know how her body will react, she will need to remain in the hospital.

I have decided to fundraise for my parents, as they have had many added expenses up to this point. We have also helped out, but I am missing work quite a bit throughout this process. I would love for the financial burden to not be an added worry for them during this difficult time. Every little bit will help.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my story and for your consideration in supporting my mom and dad.