KatStrong: Helping a child through a brain tumor
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Matt and Jennifer Sherbinski met after college when Matt was a paratrooper in the 82nd airborne for the Army and Jen was working for a company teaching Marine Biology to students off the coast of North Carolina. They fell in love, got married and moved back to Norway, Maine to start a family. They both were excited to start a family of their own, especially Jen who lost her mother when she was 7 months old from a drunk driver.
After welcoming two energetic and handsome boys into their lives, in 2011 they welcomed their first and only daughter Katarina. They were so happy and their family of 5 felt complete. Katarina had a pretty normal childhood. Despite being small, she was fierce and could keep up with her older brothers and a vocabulary better than most adults. It wasn't until December 2020, that Kat's life seemed to face some challenges.
In December 2020, Kat started getting severe migraines. She went to the doctor's and because of a family history of migraines, they prescribed Kat some medication to help. The medication was helping but still some effects seem to linger. In Feb of this year, after Kat's 10th birthday, her parents noticed her face seem to be paralyzed on one side. Fearing something terrible, they brought her into the doctor's where she was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. She was told that it would more than likely clear on its own, but they could use steroids to help reduce the swelling. Since the steroids were optional, Jen decided to wait and thank goodness she did as it would delay symptoms making the situation worse.
Kat returned to school after February break and was struggling to see and to move her arms and legs. Her mother, an Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School teacher, received a call at work and immediately left to bring her daughter to Stephen's Memorial Hospital. They did a CT scan on Kat's brain and sent them home waiting for the results. As soon as they settled in at home, Jen received a call from the radiologist that Kat has a brain tumor and needs to go to Maine Medical Center immediately.
Jen and Kat arrived at Maine Medical Center on Tuesday, February 23 and have been in Pediatrics ICU since then. They have had multiple scans through which a mango sized tumor as well as multiple pockets of fluid were discovered. Kat's condition was deteriorating and her neurologist suggested surgery, soon. They had to tell their 10 year old daughter that she has a tumor and needed surgery. Kat was upset, especially about her hair being shaved but was so brave to face this diagnosis.
On Friday, February 27, the neurosurgeon drilled holes into Kat’s head to remove as many pockets of fluid as possible and to get samples of the tumor to determine if it is cancerous. If they couldn't get the fluid, she would have to be bedridden with a drain in her skull. Luckily, this fierce, brave girl preserved through the initial surgery where the neurosurgeon was able to make pathways for her cerebral spinal fluid to hopefully flow more freely. The surgeon was also able to get multiple samples of the cysts to send out to pathology. She now has an external drain in place (but not hooked up) so if more fluid builds up, it can be drained. Jen, Matt and Kat are resting at Maine Med anxiously awaiting for the results to return which could take up to a week.
An oncology team has been closely working with the case and are prepping for what to do should the results from pathology come back are cancerous. Either way, the family is in for a long journey with their fierce daughter Kat. They are going to be missing a lot of work and could use any help you could give at this time whether monetarily, prayers or both.
PS. I am so grateful to be able to call the Sherbinski's my chosen family. Jen and I met through ETEP and despite living an hour from each other, remained incredible close. I have taken this on to take something off their plates during these trying times. I will update as often as I can to keep you posted.
Anne Merria
KatStrong
After welcoming two energetic and handsome boys into their lives, in 2011 they welcomed their first and only daughter Katarina. They were so happy and their family of 5 felt complete. Katarina had a pretty normal childhood. Despite being small, she was fierce and could keep up with her older brothers and a vocabulary better than most adults. It wasn't until December 2020, that Kat's life seemed to face some challenges.
In December 2020, Kat started getting severe migraines. She went to the doctor's and because of a family history of migraines, they prescribed Kat some medication to help. The medication was helping but still some effects seem to linger. In Feb of this year, after Kat's 10th birthday, her parents noticed her face seem to be paralyzed on one side. Fearing something terrible, they brought her into the doctor's where she was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. She was told that it would more than likely clear on its own, but they could use steroids to help reduce the swelling. Since the steroids were optional, Jen decided to wait and thank goodness she did as it would delay symptoms making the situation worse.
Kat returned to school after February break and was struggling to see and to move her arms and legs. Her mother, an Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School teacher, received a call at work and immediately left to bring her daughter to Stephen's Memorial Hospital. They did a CT scan on Kat's brain and sent them home waiting for the results. As soon as they settled in at home, Jen received a call from the radiologist that Kat has a brain tumor and needs to go to Maine Medical Center immediately.
Jen and Kat arrived at Maine Medical Center on Tuesday, February 23 and have been in Pediatrics ICU since then. They have had multiple scans through which a mango sized tumor as well as multiple pockets of fluid were discovered. Kat's condition was deteriorating and her neurologist suggested surgery, soon. They had to tell their 10 year old daughter that she has a tumor and needed surgery. Kat was upset, especially about her hair being shaved but was so brave to face this diagnosis.
On Friday, February 27, the neurosurgeon drilled holes into Kat’s head to remove as many pockets of fluid as possible and to get samples of the tumor to determine if it is cancerous. If they couldn't get the fluid, she would have to be bedridden with a drain in her skull. Luckily, this fierce, brave girl preserved through the initial surgery where the neurosurgeon was able to make pathways for her cerebral spinal fluid to hopefully flow more freely. The surgeon was also able to get multiple samples of the cysts to send out to pathology. She now has an external drain in place (but not hooked up) so if more fluid builds up, it can be drained. Jen, Matt and Kat are resting at Maine Med anxiously awaiting for the results to return which could take up to a week.
An oncology team has been closely working with the case and are prepping for what to do should the results from pathology come back are cancerous. Either way, the family is in for a long journey with their fierce daughter Kat. They are going to be missing a lot of work and could use any help you could give at this time whether monetarily, prayers or both.
PS. I am so grateful to be able to call the Sherbinski's my chosen family. Jen and I met through ETEP and despite living an hour from each other, remained incredible close. I have taken this on to take something off their plates during these trying times. I will update as often as I can to keep you posted.
Anne Merria
KatStrong
Organizer and beneficiary
Anne Merria Goodwin
Organizer
Jen Sherbinski
Beneficiary
