Help Esterlyn Cancer Treatment

Hi, I'm Eugene, asking your help on behalf of my sister Esterlyn aka love love or lablab.

What happened:

On June 5th 2023, my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. After 3 months of maternity leave she decided to quit her job as a nurse because she was still experiencing postpartum fatigue, weight loss and vomiting. Six months later, December 5th, 2023, she went to the hospital with complaints of stomach pain, weight loss and vomiting.

The hospital did X-ray and CT scan then sent her home saying she has gastritis. The next day the GI Doctor told her there was something alarming in the CT scan and she needed to be admitted for more testing. They found a tumor blocking the stomach going into the colon. That same day she had multiple biopsies and more tests done. After a few days the results came back as stage 4 "signet ring adenocarcinoma" a rare form of aggressive cancer. Per the oncologist, it is treatable but not curable. If not treated the life expectancy is a year. With treatment, it can change the course of the disease and she'll maybe have 5 years or more.

Treatment:

The treatment plan was chemotherapy but before chemotherapy could be done, she needed nourishment. Since she was unable to take in food, they placed a jejunostomy tube (tube into the small intestine) for feeding. On the first day of tube feeding she experienced excruciating pain. Her colon did not tolerate the feeding at all. Food was backing up in her stomach making it distend. To alleviate the pain, she had a tube inserted through her nose to drain her stomach. The doctors decided to stop the tube feeding and put her on IV feeding or Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). After 2 weeks in the hospital, she was sent home with her TPN to get ready for chemo.

She started her first chemotherapy last December 28, 2023. So far, she's experiencing all the chemotherapy side effects like critical low WBC, severe nausea, violent vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, pain and feeling cold all the time. Any oral medications that she has to take has to be given via the J tube.

A home health nurse visits every week for assessment. Her husband Carlos and I takes turn in assisting her with daily changing of her TPN bag, flushing of picc line and J tubing. We are hoping my mother's visa will get approved so when I go back to work someone else will be able to assist my sister and her husband.

What we need help with:

Prayers, moral support and money are some of the biggest needs of the family right now. Prayers that my sister's body will respond to the chemotherapy, for her faith not to waiver, for her husband and kids, family members taking care of her and also guidance and direction for her medical team.

Currently, they are a one income household and would need help with the medical bills that are not covered by insurance like the co-pays and deductible. Since she got diagnosed at the end of 2023, they have to reach the out-of-pocket limit first before insurance kicks in and will have to do the same again for the year 2024.

Grateful

My sister's cancer diagnosis is a shock to us all. When she told me her diagnosis, I wasn't able to be with her right away because I live 8 hours away and also had COVID at that time.

We may be far, but it brought us closer to each other and with the rest of our family together. It also brought us closer to our heavenly Father more than ever. When she was in severe pain during the feeding, the prayers sustained her. We are grateful for the army of prayer warriors who prayed and are still praying for her, for friends and church family who gave their support by means of money, buying baby diapers and milk, services like deep cleaning my sister's apartment and baby sitting. Grateful for you guys who called, who reached out and asked how you can help and for those who posted well wishes on her Facebook account.

My sister writes on her Facebook wall: "I know it's not going to be an easy journey but God promised in Deuteronomy 31:8 He will never leave me nor forsake me. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me".

Don't fall for scams going around. This is the only fundraiser we have for my sister. If you have more questions please message me.

If you prefer to give directly to my sister you can send thru zelle or vendor me.

Thank you so much for your time and God bless you.