Help Artist Sarah Park Beat Cancer

Hi, my name is Polly Seip, and I have created this GoFundMe Campaign to raise money for my beautiful sister, Sarah Park and her husband Gray Park, to help cover medical, personal, and any unexpected expenses.

On July 20, 2021, Sarah underwent an emergency and rather complicated 9 hour surgery involving the removal of 2 large golf ball sized tumors from her spine and part of her vertebrae. After the surgery, which was a success, Sarah was shocked to receive a diagnosis of Metastatic Melanoma.

In Sarah’s case, back in 2014, she had a small mole with Melanoma on her leg surgically removed. It was considered non-life-threatening and no further medical treatments were recommended and or required, other than taking a very proactive approach in reducing her exposure to the sun, and getting regular skin check ups, which she did.

But unfortunately as we have learned during this process, Melanoma is a ‘sneaky’ kind of cancer. Melanoma can spread to parts of your body far away from where the cancer started. This is called advanced, metastatic, or stage IV melanoma. It can move to your lungs, liver, brain, bones, digestive system, and lymph nodes. And in Sarah’s words … ‘it’s not the type of cancer you want.’

For Sarah, the Metastatic Melanoma developed in the C4, T1 - T3 vertebrae of her spine which ‘ate away’ at the bone causing severe pain, tingling in her hands and feet, numbness in her hips and legs, and making it difficult for her to walk. The emergency surgery involved the removal of the tumors, part of the vertebrae affected by the Melanoma, and adding a support system of titanium rods, mesh, cement, and a plate to stabilize her spine and protect her spinal cord.

Sarah now has a long road of healing and recovery as she navigates this unexpected turn in her life. Beginning with several days in rehab, OT and PT, getting a full PET scan, followed by weeks of tests and targeted radiation on her spine. If the tumor tissue has certain genetic markers, that could help indicate that the tumor might be a better responder to the available treatments and make it ‘manageable’.

Sarah is 48 years old. She is an artist, a fine art photographer. She loves life, art, flowers, nature, birds, and more. She loves her family and friends. She loves her husband, her soulmate (who is also an artist, a painter) with all her might! She’s keeping a positive attitude because in Sarah’s words … “I love life so much, and there’s so much to do! I want to be able to give joy and beauty through my artwork to people.”

Sarah is self-employed. She is the sole proprietor of an art gallery and frame shop, Stonington Gallery, in Stonington, CT. Her small business is her main source of income, and she will not be able to return to her work in the near future as she recovers.

Sarah is a loving and generous daughter, wife, sister, niece, godmother, and a good friend to many.

Simply said, I have the best sister, and I love her to the ends of the Universe and Time itself. I just want to make sure that money won’t be an issue for her and her husband during this time as she heals, recovers, and gets better, so she can keep living her life for as long as possible!!

I would like to close by sharing some supporting sentiments from a few of Sarah’s closest friends …

There are so many things that make me think of Sarah— photography, flowers, anything related to the autumn season— but the first thing that comes to mind is Best Friend, and she has been for the last 26 years and for many, many more to come.

- Missy. H (Best Friend)

I have known Sarah since 1991, and to this day when we get on the phone, within seconds we’re laughing about something! I wish everyone could have a friend like Sarah - someone who can instantly cheer you up, inspire you and make you feel special all in a single phone call. If you’re lucky enough to know Sarah you know exactly what I mean. It’s a privilege to call her one of my oldest and dearest friends and an honor to be in such good company with her and her family.

- Jean Picou (Best Friend)

Sarah is one of the truest and kindest people I've ever had the good fortune to call "framily". An avid nature lover and adventurer, an artist and small business owner, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, she deserves to spend her time recovering from her surgery and treatment restoring her body, not stressing about how to keep up with bills. Sarah puts love into everything she does and now it's time for her community to love her back. We can make a difference during this tough time.

- Julie Rose. (Best Friend)

What I do know is that Sarah Park is someone who is easy to love. She has a smile that warms you, a discerning eye for the beautiful, and an ear that shows her keen ability to see the good and great in you. She is someone I enjoy spending time with, hearing her perspectives, knowing she looks to better the world she considers herself an intimate part of. Lucky for us Sarah is a part of what makes life special.

- Chris Gatti. (Gray’s, and Sarah’s Best Friend)

Please help donate to this GoFundMe and help Sarah and Gray get through this tough time with as little worry as possible.

Your kindness, generosity, and support is greatly appreciated, and I thank you with all of my heart!!

~ Polly ~ (Sarah’s ‘Seester’)

[PSA: Melanoma can happen to anyone, at anytime, so please take care by getting a yearly skin check. Thank you.]