Help Tina kick cancer's butt.

New Year update January 2024:

Change is the only constant, this we know.

It’s been a helluva year (the last two years actually!) and the rollercoaster of events within my family has given us all a bit of whiplash.

It certainly feels like every joyous occasion has been followed by something heavy and painful, yet, we choose to live and continue on.

This is a difficult update to make, but it’s not an update without optimism and hope.

Tina had a set of scans in late December that showed worsening/progressive metastatic growth. Her cancer has mutated and spread to more bony areas (new site: skull) and has more new lesions in the liver. She suffered a pathological T8 (Thoracic vertebrae in the back) compression fracture as well, which has been causing her terrible pain.

The cancer mutation she has is pretty rare, apparently.

We attended a visit with her amazing oncologist, Dr. Rao, yesterday and she laid out a full attack plan with 4-5 different potential treatment options to continue targeting and slowing this very aggressive cancer. She also said that in all

her years of oncology this is only the 2nd time she has seen Tina’s specific type of cancer mutation. Not the best thing to be special for…

I must admit I was surprised at the new “smart” chemo options that target the cancer cells at a molecular level. These new treatment plans blow my mind!

Tina will be heading back to MGH for a

clinical trial. She will have radiation to her back to help ease her pain.

Her function is good and continues to surprise her oncologist with how well she’s doing overall. This is to her benefit obviously.

We hope this update finds you all in good health and peace in this new year.

Please- feel free to reach out.

hug each other often.

don’t forget to tell your family and friends that you love them.

with love,

Brenda ❤️

April update:

Greetings everyone,

I was so fortunate to have spent some quality time with my sister, Tina, this month. She has had some really successful medication changes, thanks to palliative care, that are helping her deal better with the severe pain she’s been enduring. There were moments this past weekend where I actually felt like I had my sister back! Her energy was

high for short moments allowing her to enjoy playing on the floor with her very active nephew! The energy bursts don’t last long and Tina is now listening to her body and napping/resting more often.

Tina also had opportunities to visit with friends, family members, cousins and one of our uncles. The visits are incredibly uplifting for her as I’ve stated before. Keep the visits going!!! I have included some beautiful pictures of some terrific memories here.

Tina wanted to be sure that I posted an update that included a great big heartfelt THANK YOU to each of you. She wants you to know that the funds that have been collected have gone to pay for medical bills and medications and that it has helped her tremendously.

Please take care of each other and reach out. Hugs and love to each of you.

With love,

Brenda ❤️

——- previous update

Hello again!

I have been asked by several folks to update this GFM with Tina’s recent status update. We also started a Caring Bridge but it hasn’t been widely followed, so I’ll continue to update through GFM in hopes that this continues to raise more and more helpful funds for my sister and her husband as they navigate a painful path.

To those of you who have already donated and offered kind words - I cannot extend enough thanks to you for your caring. The funds are helping so much, as Tina is now out of work indefinitely.

Tina’s cancer has continued to spread - now involving her liver. She struggles to find her pain controlled without feeling overly medicated so that has been incredibly difficult.

The course of treatment has changed in the past few weeks and she has needed to begin oral chemotherapy. The side effects thus far have been somewhat tolerable- with some days better than others, as expected.

Mentally- we’re all struggling to come to terms with the spreading cancer and our sweet Tina battling for pain control and peace of mind everyday. There’s not only physical pain, but grief, sadness, anger, doubt, shock, despair and somehow HOPE all mixed in.

We tend to be realists. We know what spreading cancer means. But we also know what enjoying our lives means.

Taking life for granted is NOT a luxury we have.

If helping out monetarily is not your thing - there are other ways you can help! Visit! Call! Send a note! Be in touch! Make Tina laugh until she pees her pants! Make memories now. Please don’t wait.

I hope this message finds all of you well. Be kind to each other.

wishing peace, love and joy to each of you and sending forth a deep gratitude for reading our story and sharing the GFM.

Love,

~ Brenda (the littlest sister)

original post below:

Hello!

On behalf of my beautiful sister, Tina - I am trying to raise some funds to help her with her medical costs and travel costs for her impending cancer treatments.

Tina was diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2001 at 35 years old - after completing her treatment she went into remission for 16 glorious years!

5 years ago she began having pains and a pet-scan revealed metastasis to multiple sites in her bones.

She had a good treatment plan to suppress the cancer, however... she just recently underwent her 5 year check up with an additional pet-scan which, unfortunately revealed further progression of her disease.

She has a wonderful team of oncologists and has agreed to undergo a clinical trial at MGH to further suppress and fight this disease and to help others who may be affected by cancer in the future as well. Her prognosis cannot be determined at this point in time but hope and positivity are on our side.

Her bravery and grace in the face of this diagnosis is undeniable.

Tina isn't just a cancer statistic - she is a cancer WARRIOR. Cancer does not define her!

She is a wonderful mother of 3 smart, kind, young women, a doting grandmother, a loyal big sister, a devoted wife, a skilled caregiver, and an all around terrific person with a great sense of humor. She's also a great cook and a great dog mama!

As she has gone on leave from her job to undergo her treatment plan - her and her husband Allan's finances are going to take a hit.

Tina will be traveling to Boston frequently for her treatment.

Please, I ask for you to donate, no matter how small the amount - in her name. Times are tough, so if you cannot donate - please please please consider SHARING this fundraising request far and wide across your social media platforms.

Tina's whole family thanks each and every one of you for taking the time to read this and pass it on.

All the love,

Brenda (the little sister)