Help Ali Fight Cancer

A dull ache in Ali's left leg was the first sign that something was wrong.  In June, Ali went to see a doctor to have her leg checked out, as she was thinking she may have a stress fracture due to exercising.  The doctor took some x-rays which showed nothing, so they recommended she try physical therapy.  Ali opted to see a well recommended chiropractor.  After two months of chiropractic care, Ali was not having any relief, so she went back for another x-ray. The x-ray showed a tumor in her left femur.  They ordered an MRI and her doctor told her he was 99.9 % sure her tumor was benign, but was sending her to UW Madison Carbone Cancer Center .  She was scheduled to go to UW Madison on September 11th.  Meanwhile, Ali  noticed some changes in her vision, so Micaela & I recommended she come into our eye clinic to have her vision checked. When doing a vision check, Dr. Falk found she had a slight  Rx change and noticed her left pupil was more dilated than her right.  He referred her to the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin and after seeing a couple different ophthalmologists and some more tests , they suggested a brain MRI just as a precautionary measure.  Ali had a brain MRI done on Monday, September 10th.  She was sent to Stevens Point to see Dr. Onitilo (oncologist) for results of her MRI : it showed five different lesions on her brain.  The larger lesion is pressing on her optic nerve, causing her eye to stay dilated.  Dr. Onitilo was convinced that the lesions in her brain and the tumor in her leg were not the point of origination and immediately ordered a CT scan of her midsection.  Results of the CT scan showed  large mass in her left lung and a small lesion on her kidney.  On Wednesday, September 12th, Ali was scheduled for a lung biopsy in Marshfield. We waited for some time and the nurses came out to let us know there was some complications with the machine needed for the biopsy and rescheduled Ali for Friday, September 14th.  Friday she had the lung biopsy.  Ali has always been a  compassionate caregiver, but when it is comes to herself and needles , well lets just say it's not so good.  She was a trooper and the biopsy went well with no complications!  On Tuesday, September 18, we all met with Dr. Onitilo for results of Biopsy.  As devastating as the results were (stage four adenocarcinoma non small cell lung cancer with mets to brain & bone) we are not giving up hope! 

We can't be on this journey with out the power & love from up above!  We are praying for strength, courage, peace , love and time:  Precious time together, time to heal and time for new cures and treatments.  

Ali has a long road of treatment ahead. Please consider giving to the Beranek family to help them through this difficult time. Funds will help the family pay for her medical care and related expenses, including travel to cancer centers both in the area and in Madison and cancer coaching. 

Please visit Ali's Caring Bridge website for updates about her progress and treatment: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/aliberanek