Help Give Emily The Gift Of Treasured Time

Hi everyone, this is Kerissa Feuerstein and I’m a very close friend of Emily, her husband Ray, and their children (Raymond, Megan, and Jacob).

 

As some of you may know Emily was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September of last year. At that time we kept this information to her family and a handful of close friends as we all didn’t want to alarm those who know and love Emily. This was a difficult choice to her and her family as they chose to navigate this journey without the support of many of you. At the time of her diagnosis they were hoping that managing the news was helping them to control what seemed like an uncontrollable situation.

 

Soon after diagnosing her cancer they started treatments involving radiation and chemotherapy. As time progressed we stayed hopeful that Emily would beat her cancer and we would soon be celebrating together. When January came, Emily had been given the news that things were looking as though they should and the docs were feeling confident that in 2 more months when she would have a pet scan the results would be good and Emily will get to ring the Bell to say F you to cancer!!

 

Quickly March came and the PET scan was done but we didn’t get the news that we had hoped for. The cancer had spread to two places in her stomach and a third place in a lymph node between her neck and shoulder. We took this news as just one more challenge and Emily became determined to remain fearless and continue on her path to being cancer free. 

On April 6, Ray and Emily chose to fully commit their love to one another and join their families as one becoming husband and wife. Emily, her son Jacob, Ray, his son Raymond and daughter Megan all grew in their love for another that day. I was so grateful to see some happiness begin to shine through on their family after the months of devastating news. This family made their support system even stronger for the months ahead.

 

After a couple more months of treatments, Emily was finally given news in June that her cancer was shrinking! This was news we had been waiting to hear after many tears, minor surgeries, countless visits to the hospital and many days that her side effects were less than desirable. At this point treatments were adjusted and Emily pushed forward. We stayed hopeful that we would soon be telling everyone it was time to celebrate.

 

Unfortunately, only 3 months later this is not the case. The last month and a half has been nothing but heartache and disappointment for Emily and her family. From being hospitalized, placed on palliative care, and now hospice. The doctors telling us that Emily only has several weeks to maybe 2 months until end of life. Last night we welcomed Emily home where she is finally back where she belongs… in her home she has built with her loving husband Ray and her sweet son Jacob.

 

With a heavy heart and many tears, I’m asking you all to help give Emily and her family the most precious gift of time by allowing her husband Ray to stay home. While Emily has spent this last year fighting for her life, Ray has continued to juggle both his time with her and his need to work at the VA. With Emily on hospice, her family needs to be at her side while they navigate through these difficult moments in their lives. As we all know, no work = no money, fighting cancer = endless medical bills, being sick = you are still a parent, and with Jacob still at home he also needs this support. I ask for you to help Emily care for him as his mother and as she continues this fight with cancer. This is a time no one should have to go through and if they do, they should be able to do so with all of their attention and time dedicated to the ones they love!

Thank you in advance for any donations we will and already have received.  This means the world to me and Emily’s family during this time! We wish for you and your family to always be together and healthy. If terminal illness ever touches your lives, which we hope it never does, we wish that people far and wide will become your angels as so many have for Emily’s family. ❤️

WE LOVE YOU EMILY, RAY, MEGAN, RAYMOND AND JACOB ❤️