Help Sherri in her cancer journey

Hi, my name is Kim. Sherri is a Nurse that needs our assistance. Cancer is not just a physical illness. Once all resources are exhausted for help what can we do? Here is her short story with Stage lV Metastatic Breast Cancer. Sherri has made friends around the world. I am calling on all who can help. We need programs. We cannot stop the cancer but can we stop the life draining effects of trying to live with it?

Go Fund Me Note

I have always been a very independent person, able to take care of myself financially and physically. Cancer has changed that. It has decimated the life I built for myself. It is not easy for me to ask for help and any funds from this campaign will go towards my medical bills, health insurance premiums and an unexpected overpayment due on my Long-Term Disability plan.

In January, my breast cancer recurred, resulting in a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer with a 2–3-year life expectancy. For 6 months I underwent a procedure (thoracentesis) every week to remove fluid that was accumulating around my right lung (malignant right pleural effusion). The procedure caused complications and I had to take pain medication and receive nerve blocks in my back to tolerate the weekly thoracentesis. I started chemo to slow the progression of the cancer and hopefully slow the accumulation of fluid around my lung. Unfortunately, the fluid accumulation did not stop, and I had to have surgery in June to stop it. During the past 11 months I have encountered one challenge after another.

Despite knowing my situation my landlord raised my rent by $400 a month which because of my loss of income I was unable to afford. The loss of my rental home meant that I had to surrender my beloved dog Journey whom I had adopted 8 ½ yrs. ago. My physical limitations due to the cancer, chemo and decreased function of my right lung have left me unable to consistently be able to walk her. Without a home with a yard, I could not adequately care for her and had to surrender her back to the rescue. Surrendering her broke my heart and my spirit. A few weeks before I surrendered her my cat of 15 yrs., Jack, became ill and I had to euthanize him.

I am fortunate that I have had disability benefits through my employer although it is considerably less than my regular income. It is unlikely that I will ever be able to return to work. I was recently approved for Social Security Disability. When I informed my Long-Term Disability plan of the approval, they informed me that I had an overpayment of $6800 that I owed them. They do not provide the information that there is a requirement to repay the difference between their payment and the approved Social Security Disability payment in any of their benefit descriptions or the approval letter they send when they approve the long-term disability. So, I had no opportunity to even attempt to prepare for the overpayment.

In October I moved to a small apartment and within 2 weeks was diagnosed with Pneumonia. Two weeks after that I underwent elective surgery for hernia repair that I had been dealing with since January when it was found during the testing and imaging, I had done related to my cancer.

The side effects of the chemo and other meds, the fact that my lung is compromised from the pleural effusion and surgery, the cancer itself and the multitude of losses I have incurred have impacted my quality of life.

This is my third cancer diagnosis. I have managed to come back from previous diagnosis but this time it has resulted in the loss of the things that I love most in the world, my job, my home, my dog, and my cat. I have had to sell the majority of my belongings that are of any value to meet monthly expenses as well as giving up/donating/junking items to move to a smaller living space. It has decimated my life and depleted my strength, my faith, and my resilience. I do my best to remain positive despite the challenges.