Sarina Strong

Story

SarinaStrongNever will I forget the words my sister, Sarina, exclaimed to us in October, 2018 – “I have lung cancer”.  This was after Sarina was hospitalized, tested and treated for what was suspected to be pneumonia.  A biopsy performed while she was hospitalized revealed she had lung cancer.  Lung cancer?!!  What?!!  It was unthinkable that my bright, beautiful, 38-year old, healthy, non-smoking sister was diagnosed with cancer – lung cancer. Sarina was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), with the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene mutation.  Unfortunately, lung cancer does not discriminate – it affects people of all ages, all ethnicities, non-smokers and smokers, women and men, healthy and less healthy, etc., etc.Lung cancer claims the most lives of any cancer, yet it is the most underfunded of all cancers, so research of the causes of lung cancer affecting young, non-smokers, especially women, is limited.  It is also stereotyped erroneously as a “smoker’s” disease.  Sarina has been a non-smoker all her life.  Here are some lung cancer facts (provided by the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and other lung cancer sites):·         Nearly 155,000 lives are lost annually·         It accounts for 25% of all cancer deaths (more than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined)·         Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer among women in the US, surpassing breast cancer·         Lung cancer rate has fallen 21% among men, but for reasons that are unclear, the lung cancer rates have risen 116% among women, many of whom are non-smokersSarina was diagnosed in October, and, fortunately, thoracic surgeons felt that she was a good candidate (because of her age and general good health, except for the cancer) for surgery to remove the tumor.  In November, just before Thanksgiving, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor and some affected lymph nodes.  The surgery was successful.  Ironically, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  Her oncologists also recommended an aggressive, targeted chemotherapy treatment, which began on January 11th.  She will have a total of four infusion treatments, one every three weeks.  She will then be evaluated to determine whether further treatment is necessary.    Furthermore, in addition to Sarina having to endure expensive, grueling chemotherapy treatments, she has to undergo In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) because she and her new husband, Maynard, want children, and there is a high degree of risk that chemotherapy will severely reduce their chances of having the children they very much want.  IVF is very, very expensive and none of the medications and procedures are covered by insurance.  Additionally, the side effects of the chemotherapy may prevent Sarina from working her normal hours.Although Sarina and Maynard are trying to pay for all the uncovered costs related to her cancer and all the costs related to the IVF medications and procedures, the costs are prohibitive!  I have taken it upon myself to assist them as best I can, by creating this GoFundMe account.Asking for financial help is not easy; unfortunately, it’s sometimes necessary.  The purpose of this GoFundMe page is to not only help Sarina and Maynard with the enormous costs of hospitals and doctors, but to also increase awareness and information about lung cancer.To help me get the word out, please feel free to share my link to your Facebook Timeline!Our entire family is so very grateful for all the love, support, good thoughts and prayers Sarina has received and continues to receive from every one of you.