Support for Terry Kelnhofer Torti's Cancer Journey

Six weeks ago, the news no one is prepared to hear became a reality for Terry. How do you go from a clean physical in 2024 to Stage 4 Lung Cancer in May of 2025? She wasn't on any medications. She never smoked. She was working full-time and enjoying her life. Then, out of the blue, everything changed.

Terry went to the doctor because she had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away, and a racing heart. Four weeks of tests—x-rays, PET scans, biopsies, and weekly draining of the fluid in her lungs—resulted in the doctors diagnosing Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma, which has spread to the lining of the lung and brain, with spots in the abdomen and pelvis.

Her oncologist has prescribed chemotherapy every 3 weeks for at least the next 36 weeks, a trial drug to attack the mutated gene causing the cancer, and draining of the lungs as necessary (at home every couple of days). Needless to say, She now has a port for chemo, a port for drainage and mounting medical bills. Terry can no longer work. She is tired from the chemo and the pressure the fluid is causing to her heart. She can't sleep due to the build-up of fluid and the position of the port. Walking a few feet causes her to be out of breath.

Terry and Ned have been married for 33 years. They have two kids, Kelly and Jack, and Kelly and her husband Erich have two sons, Henry and Brady. If you know Terry, you know she would be the first one to ask how you're doing, and the last one to ask for help. She expects nothing from anyone and never seeks attention or the spotlight.

We are ignoring that and asking for your help. The next year is going to be difficult, to say the least.

How you can help:

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Pray for Terry, for her family, for the doctors, for the researchers...

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