Help Sonya Overcome Her Medical Hurdles

My name is Sonya Lister Walters James I am needing assistance to pay continuing medical expenses.

Hope and Faith

My story is not one where I ask for empathy because I am not a victim, I am a survivor by faith and hope. As a survivor of childhood diabetes, that led me to the 2nd pancreas/kidney transplant recipient in the state of Oklahoma. My daughter and I had many good years until the immune suppressants led to uncontrollable HPV and eventually colon cancer and failing eyesight.

Metastatic colon cancer gave me a 2 month death sentence until a new treatment – Jemperli was approved in March of 2023. My friend who had the 1st pancreas/kidney transplant just passed away with colon cancer due to the immune suppressants the same day I was diagnosed.

This drug saved my life, but attacked my transplants. I am on dialysis and giving myself insulin shots again. During the exploratory surgery after the radical vulvectomy, a tumor was discovered and a colonoscopy then revealed stage 3 cancer which required removal of 1/4th of my transverse colon. We thought we were in the clear, but months later, the cancer had metastasized and they found a total of 5 stage 4 cancerous tumors.

I then became a realtor for Century 21 in Norman but have not able to work due to my health issues. My health issues will not define me. Although I have seen darkest of days with agonizing pain, I will not end my life like my stepdad did. I know tomorrow is a new day and God is not through with me…….he would not have saved me from all these obstacles to have me end it without a courageous fight !

A double transplant in 1996 was almost unheard of at that time. Then a miraculous drug for metastasized colon cancer patients was FDA approved a month after my diagnosis. As I witnessed this firsthand, my PET scan images showed significant shrinkage in the 5 “hotspots” that are now almost nonexistent.

Even though the transplants and Jemperli have been a blessing, now I have to fight the side effects which include various bacterial infections and continued bouts with CDIF.

But my faith and determination to survive barriers will not stop because of medical expenses. My independence has been stripped away because of failing eyesight , dialysis, fatigue, pain or constant medical appointments. These things forge me forward to continue my fight. Not quitting may save someone else, who might even be a friend, family member or even a patient that is a complete stranger.

Even having a less intimate marriage because of the full radical vulvectomy, my failing eyesight, cancer treatments and dialysis…. Not to mention the ongoing infections only strengthens me and my empathy to help even my own family who now need me.

I can help transplant patients to find new transplant drugs that won’t cause cancer or cause loss of the transplanted organs. I need financial help to continue. Medical expenses are one of the biggest barriers I have. I have insulin, blood clot medications and a continuous barrage of medical testing that is required to provide updates to my oncologist and my nephrologist. I also continue to have dialysis 2-3 weekly because of the loss of my kidney due to the cancer immuno therapy. I also have cardiovascular issues that shouldn’t be halted because I cannot work at this time. I continue to need assistance in the continuing expenses of dialysis 3 times a week, transportation to and from appointments and treatments, co-pays additional required medications and other medical supplies . The DifiCid to treat CDIF infection is $5000 for 20 tablets !

I really need your help so please donate what you can to help bring a better tomorrow to others who will continue to experience what I have been through.

You cannot let your own darkness deter you from inspiring others. Use your triumphs to empower others as they struggle to survive.