<div>Hi.  My name is Shari, and this gofundme is to support an extraordinary person.  My 
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<div>friend Iris has leiomyosarcoma.  It is a very rare form of sarcoma affecting 
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<div>her daily life.  While sarcomas typically are not life-threatening, Iris's is due to its location.  It is on her left kidney adjacent to her aorta.  She has seen many 
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<div>different specialists since her first occurrence in 2009.  Over the past 13 years, there have been trips to the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Atlanta, 
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<div>Moffit Cancer in Tampa, MD Anderson in Jacksonville, and the University of Miami. 
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<div>This is now her last opportunity to remove this mass.  Johns Hopkins Hospital in 
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<div>Maryland is willing to perform a VERY risky surgery. Unfortunately, Iris may lose her  
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<div>spleen, pancreas, and kidney during this complicated surgery.
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<div>As with any surgery, the recovery will be long and painful. Iris will have to be in the 
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<div>hospital anywhere from 7 days to 3 weeks.  Once she is released from the hospital, 
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<div>the at home recovery time can be as long as 3 additional months.  Her amazing 
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<div>husband has stood by her side but will have to take a leave of absence from his work to help Iris with her recovery.  Iris has had to take over 3 months off of work since 
December 2021 due to doctor appointments and cancer-related issues.
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<div>She and her husband, Howie are blessed to be raising 2 adopted boys.  One of their 
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<div>sons is Autistic and living in a group home, and the other son just graduated high 
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<div>school and is heading to college.  Their autistic son lives in a group home due to 
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<div>severe behavioral issues associated with his disability.  This adds to the financial
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<div>strain as the group home is not without cost.  Their other son is looking forward to 
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<div>starting college in August, however that is costly also.  
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<div>Despite their motherś illness, both boys are thriving and succeeding.  They are 
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<div>making their parents proud and would like to continue to do so with your help. 
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<div>At this point, Iḿ asking for help not only for my friend Iris, but for her whole family.  
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<div>Unfortunately, the surgery is not fully covered under insurance.  In addition, Howie 
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<div>will be out of work until Iris is well enough to stay home without needing assistance.  While they are in Maryland for her surgery they will have the added expenses of 
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<div>airfare, hotel, rental car, and meals.  Please help these very special people as they 
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<div>navigate this new and difficult journey.
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David McKeehan

Anonymous

Lisa Johnson

Sandra Romeo-Murry

Mahjong Girls

Renee Constantino

Kathryn Kaether

Wayne Henry

Terri McMunn

Sidney Zimmerman

Dave Robinson

Ronalee Matthews

Charles Dusterhoff

William McDonald

charles dusterhoff

Derik Brasher

Help Iris beat Sarcoma

Help Iris beat Sarcoma

Still $6,737 to go. Help us build momentum.