In Loving Memory of Erinn Brouwer

My name is Sarah Berard, and I’m raising funds for my dear friend, Erinn (Hungerford) Brouwer. Erinn and I grew up in Stratford together (Bunnell class of 93), and have been best friends for 35 years. She now lives in Lisbon, CT, and has raised her family there for almost 15 years.

Our beloved Erinn has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and is about to begin the fight of her life, as she will undergo intensive chemotherapy at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston for the next 7 months. We are asking for your support for Erinn and her family during this incredibly difficult time.

A brief backstory on what she has already been through...

In late March, Erinn was admitted to the hospital with high blood pressure, and some abdominal pain that she thought was a pulled muscle. After a very challenging year, finalizing a divorce and experiencing sustained stress at work, Erinn thought her out of control blood pressure was simply her body reacting to all the stress. As a working single mom of 2 kids, she wasn't normally one to slow down. She expected to be monitored at the hospital, maybe stay one night to rest, and go home. Then, a routine abdominal scan revealed something that would change her life forever - a previously undetected 4-5 cm mass in her lower abdomen.

Erinn was shocked to learn the mass was the source of her abdominal pain. After a referral to an oncologist and a PET scan, Erinn had major surgery in late April to remove the mass. She also had a portion of her intestine removed, as that needed to come out to ensure they could get all of the tumor. As if the surgery and recovery weren't difficult enough, Erinn received more bad news. Before it was removed, the tumor had doubled in size in only a month.

After an agonizing two week wait for lab results, Erinn received a devastating misdiagnosis. She was told she had a very rare and untreatable cancer, that if confirmed would be likely to take her life within 24 months. Devastated and crushed, facing every mother's worst nightmare of leaving her kids without a mom, she (and many others) prayed for a miracle.

A week later, in a follow up referral at Dana Farber, that miracle came in the form of a closely related but different diagnosis! The new (confirmed) diagnosis is aggressive Stage 2 Extraskeletal Ewing’s Sarcoma. Although Ewing's Sarcoma is also very rare, especially in adults, it is treatable, and has a hopeful prognosis with the right treatment! Prayers were answered, and Erinn now has a light at the end of the tunnel. Her two amazing kids (Garrett, 14, and Abbie, 10) are her reason to do whatever it takes to get to the finish line and be cancer-free.

Now the hard part - The recommended treatment is 7 months of intensive chemotherapy at Dana Farber in Boston, almost 100 miles from Erinn’s home in Lisbon. This will require her to stay in Boston for up to 5-6 days at a time for daily outpatient treatment. She will be unable to work for the duration of her treatment period, and will periodically be away from her kids, who are her whole world.

With the heavy weight Erinn is already carrying, my hope is that we can help lighten her financial burden, and enable her to get the treatment she needs. Through no fault of her own, due to events of the prior year, Erinn was already struggling financially before her cancer diagnosis. Now she will have less income, and many more bills.

Our goal is set high as there is a great need. We're hoping to help pay bills (mortgage, etc) while she’s unable to work, help with unknown medical bills, and assist with housing/hotels and other expenses like gas, parking, and meals while she’s staying in Boston for outpatient treatment.

If you are able, any donation (big or small) is so appreciated, and will be life changing for Erinn and her kids.

If you know Erinn, you know how amazing she is. Loving, caring, kind, selfless. She has a warmth and joy about her that makes everyone around her feel comfortable and cared for. She’s the first to lend a helping hand, give a bright smile, and make you laugh just when you need it. Erinn is a friend to all, a truly wonderful person, and my life-long friend. I am heart-broken that she and her family are going through this, but so relieved and grateful that she has a fighting chance!

It will take a village to support Erinn and her family through this. Please be a part of that village, in any way that you can help! Even if you're not able to donate, please consider sharing this post with others. And please pray for strength and healing for Erinn and her family.

Thank you for your generosity, love, kindness, prayers, and support.