Hi Everyone.
I would like to introduce you to my amazing, beautiful, angelic mother, Sarah Wildfong.
Please take a few minutes out of your day to read below just a bit about her and her battle against lung and brain cancer... 
In the beginning of 2022, my mother believed she had covid. She had all of the symptoms from a cough, to a fever, the chills, and shortness of breath. After a few months of sickness she then decided to go to the doctors where they concurred it was pneumonia, putting her on antibiotics to help fight the infection. After weeks of no relief, and her breath getting tighter, swollen from head to toe, pain in her joints, she was then taken to the hospital where she was immediately admitted because the doctors discovered she was currently going into congestive heart failure.
This was the start of an unfortunate downward spiral of bad news. My mother was then in the hospital for almost 1 month. They found fluid built up in her lungs and around her heart, causing the congestive heart failure, to which they gave her a chest tube where they began to drain the fluid. All seemed to be going well, but as she sat in the hospital, her breathing continued to worsen, and they were having to drain the fluid that kept building up in her lungs. She was put on an oxygen machine as the doctors did testing to try and find the problem. After CT scans, MRI's and numerous other tests, they decided to bring the fluid from her lungs into testing and found cancer cells. Once the doctors discovered the cancer, they then brought my mother into more testing to find out exactly what the cancer she had was. As we were hoping for a best case scenario, ie: stage 1, curable, common, we did not get such great news. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma affecting her right lung around the lining of her heart. It was then discovered the cancer had metastasized to her brain. The problem with her cancer, we found out, was that the type of cancer she has is very common, but the "cause" of the cancer is what prevents her from ever going into remission.
With the help of her amazing team of doctors and nurses, a plan was put forth for my mother as she was a candidate to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. So once she was strong enough to leave the hospital, we started chemo as soon as we could. Then, was our long winding journey of ups and downs, good news then bad news. Her chemotherapy seemed to be helping at first, then she started her round of radiation which showed promising results. The chemotherapy she was put on began to affect her liver counts, putting her in the hospital and forcing her to pause the chemotherapy treatments until her liver enzymes we stronger. After a few months with no chemo, her lungs started to worsen but her liver then was starting to heal. Luckily, she was able to resume her chemotherapy, but her doctors started her on a different kind, one that would be less harsh on her liver. At this point, she was having regular check ups with her doctors to see the state of her brain cancer. Unfortunately, the tumors on her brain had returned. Meaning, she would have to do more radiation, pausing her chemotherapy. This began a cycle of chemotherapy, radiation, chemotherapy, radiation as the spots on her head had kept returning. Within all of this troubling news, my mother has never once given up, she refuses to quit. She will do whatever it takes to keep moving forward, so she can be there for her grandchildren and children. In this time, she developed many hobbies including painting, drawing, puzzles, rug hooking, basically any activity that can be done from a sitting position. She has turned into a mini picasso with her beautiful paintings!
Fast forwarding to this summer 2023, she had recieved positive news that there was no spots that showed up from her MRI, and the tumors on her lung was shrinking! It felt like a little weight was lifted off our shoulders knowing my mom was starting to get on track and feeling better. This was then followed with unfortunate news as she went to her MRI scan for a check up a few months later, discovering almost 30 new spots had developed. This was a shock to all of us, and her doctors had encouraged a full brain radiation, to which she agreed. There was a chance that she would come out with no spots after this treatment as she never had her full head radiated yet.
Come to present day, she has recieved her results from the full brain radiation, noticing spots were still showing up. Her doctors made the tough decision to end her chemotherapy and stop all radiation treatments until further notice. She was told it would put too much harm on her body and deteriorate her quality of life as she has been experiencing a lot of tiredness, nausea and brain fog as it is. They have given her a prognosis of 4-6 months. She was told by her oncologist that there has been a promising treatment in Pittsburgh that would help with her type of cancer. This is her absolute last resort, the treatment is not covered by OHIP, and is not FDA approved. This means that cost of the treatment is paid out of pocket. The cost of each treatment would cost $9000 US. This is an expense that is very unattainable for most! Especially my mother who has not been able to work in the past 1.5+ years.
What we ask is if you could donate, share, like, anything to get our gofundme the attention it so deserves. Every. Dollar. Counts. And we are hoping to raise money inorder for my mother to prolong her life and hopefully find a miracle to end her suffering!
My mother is such a force. She is a light in so many lives. From growing up, me, my brothers Jacob and Crawford share many amazing memories with my mom. She was a mother to all, we had the house that all of our friends were always coming to. She loves children and loved to open her home to whoever needed it. From when I was a child I remember at one point she had an in-home daycare so she could be home with Crawford and I while we were still little. She has always been a hard worker, and never planned on quitting, even now. Always on her feet, running around doing chores, errands, working 3 jobs at times to support us. To see my mom so immobile from this disease is heartbreaking. As many many people know my mom is the life of the party. Even now in her state, she still remains the loudest and proudest person in any room she walks into.
Pictures do not to justice in showing my mom and her glowing beautiful personality. Thank you for taking the time to read my schpiel, and seriously, every share, donation, word of mouth, or even suggestions on ways we can fundraise will do so much more than you know!
Please enjoy some pictures of my beautiful mother, my amazing niece and nephew Paige and Walker, and our amazing supportive family and friends. We wish you all the best and appreciate all of your support, more than you know. ❤️
In the beginning of 2022, my mother believed she had covid. She had all of the symptoms from a cough, to a fever, the chills, and shortness of breath. After a few months of sickness she then decided to go to the doctors where they concurred it was pneumonia, putting her on antibiotics to help fight the infection. After weeks of no relief, and her breath getting tighter, swollen from head to toe, pain in her joints, she was then taken to the hospital where she was immediately admitted because the doctors discovered she was currently going into congestive heart failure.
This was the start of an unfortunate downward spiral of bad news. My mother was then in the hospital for almost 1 month. They found fluid built up in her lungs and around her heart, causing the congestive heart failure, to which they gave her a chest tube where they began to drain the fluid. All seemed to be going well, but as she sat in the hospital, her breathing continued to worsen, and they were having to drain the fluid that kept building up in her lungs. She was put on an oxygen machine as the doctors did testing to try and find the problem. After CT scans, MRI's and numerous other tests, they decided to bring the fluid from her lungs into testing and found cancer cells. Once the doctors discovered the cancer, they then brought my mother into more testing to find out exactly what the cancer she had was. As we were hoping for a best case scenario, ie: stage 1, curable, common, we did not get such great news. My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma affecting her right lung around the lining of her heart. It was then discovered the cancer had metastasized to her brain. The problem with her cancer, we found out, was that the type of cancer she has is very common, but the "cause" of the cancer is what prevents her from ever going into remission.
With the help of her amazing team of doctors and nurses, a plan was put forth for my mother as she was a candidate to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. So once she was strong enough to leave the hospital, we started chemo as soon as we could. Then, was our long winding journey of ups and downs, good news then bad news. Her chemotherapy seemed to be helping at first, then she started her round of radiation which showed promising results. The chemotherapy she was put on began to affect her liver counts, putting her in the hospital and forcing her to pause the chemotherapy treatments until her liver enzymes we stronger. After a few months with no chemo, her lungs started to worsen but her liver then was starting to heal. Luckily, she was able to resume her chemotherapy, but her doctors started her on a different kind, one that would be less harsh on her liver. At this point, she was having regular check ups with her doctors to see the state of her brain cancer. Unfortunately, the tumors on her brain had returned. Meaning, she would have to do more radiation, pausing her chemotherapy. This began a cycle of chemotherapy, radiation, chemotherapy, radiation as the spots on her head had kept returning. Within all of this troubling news, my mother has never once given up, she refuses to quit. She will do whatever it takes to keep moving forward, so she can be there for her grandchildren and children. In this time, she developed many hobbies including painting, drawing, puzzles, rug hooking, basically any activity that can be done from a sitting position. She has turned into a mini picasso with her beautiful paintings!
Fast forwarding to this summer 2023, she had recieved positive news that there was no spots that showed up from her MRI, and the tumors on her lung was shrinking! It felt like a little weight was lifted off our shoulders knowing my mom was starting to get on track and feeling better. This was then followed with unfortunate news as she went to her MRI scan for a check up a few months later, discovering almost 30 new spots had developed. This was a shock to all of us, and her doctors had encouraged a full brain radiation, to which she agreed. There was a chance that she would come out with no spots after this treatment as she never had her full head radiated yet.
Come to present day, she has recieved her results from the full brain radiation, noticing spots were still showing up. Her doctors made the tough decision to end her chemotherapy and stop all radiation treatments until further notice. She was told it would put too much harm on her body and deteriorate her quality of life as she has been experiencing a lot of tiredness, nausea and brain fog as it is. They have given her a prognosis of 4-6 months. She was told by her oncologist that there has been a promising treatment in Pittsburgh that would help with her type of cancer. This is her absolute last resort, the treatment is not covered by OHIP, and is not FDA approved. This means that cost of the treatment is paid out of pocket. The cost of each treatment would cost $9000 US. This is an expense that is very unattainable for most! Especially my mother who has not been able to work in the past 1.5+ years.
What we ask is if you could donate, share, like, anything to get our gofundme the attention it so deserves. Every. Dollar. Counts. And we are hoping to raise money inorder for my mother to prolong her life and hopefully find a miracle to end her suffering!
My mother is such a force. She is a light in so many lives. From growing up, me, my brothers Jacob and Crawford share many amazing memories with my mom. She was a mother to all, we had the house that all of our friends were always coming to. She loves children and loved to open her home to whoever needed it. From when I was a child I remember at one point she had an in-home daycare so she could be home with Crawford and I while we were still little. She has always been a hard worker, and never planned on quitting, even now. Always on her feet, running around doing chores, errands, working 3 jobs at times to support us. To see my mom so immobile from this disease is heartbreaking. As many many people know my mom is the life of the party. Even now in her state, she still remains the loudest and proudest person in any room she walks into.
Pictures do not to justice in showing my mom and her glowing beautiful personality. Thank you for taking the time to read my schpiel, and seriously, every share, donation, word of mouth, or even suggestions on ways we can fundraise will do so much more than you know!
Please enjoy some pictures of my beautiful mother, my amazing niece and nephew Paige and Walker, and our amazing supportive family and friends. We wish you all the best and appreciate all of your support, more than you know. ❤️
Organizer
Sydney Bell
Organizer
Milton, ON