Our dearly loved teacher/friend Ms. Heather Howiler was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.  There are two types..resectable (meaning they feel confident that they can remove 100% of the tumor through surgery) and not resectable (meaning they cannot remove it all). Hers is not resectable (it's in some nearby lymph nodes) so she received a stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis.  This is incurable...another punch in the gut...more of those words you never ever want to hear.  Because of the size of the tumor on her liver, chemotherapy started right away.  The purpose of the chemo is to try to shrink the tumor on her liver and keep it under control. 

Obviously, this is a horrible situation that Heather and her family has found themselves in and at times it feels just like a bad dream.  However, it has been made so much easier because of the outpouring of support that she and her family have received. What has been seen over the past few weeks is such an extensive support group of friends who are truly willing to help in any way possible whether it's bringing food; sending cards, flowers, and notes of encouragement; going to appointments; cleaning up the house; offering to come and sit with Heather during the day, or even more to have her come and stay at their houses, so that she doesn't have to be alone.

As a group of families/friends that go beyond the imagination we would like to continue the help and love going.  There are many people wanting to help Ms. Heather Howiler and there is pure gratitude for the love and care that everyone is showing her.    Here at Peterson the PTA would like to try and take the burden of medical bills, possible travel expenses in the future  for Heather herself and her family, and other unexpected expenses that may come their way.  Heather's family does not live locally and we would like to help them as much as possible as well.