Help Gail Morin McArdle Beat Cancer
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In 2015, after a few months of walking with an occasional loss of balance and not knowing why, Gail was examined by her primary care physician and within two days she had her first MRI. Two days later she was called in for a second MRI due to a mass; the neurologist requested a much clearer set of images. This all led to her first brain surgery on November 12th. A tumor was blocking the flow of fluid in her brain which caused her to have those balance issues. The surgery relieved the pressure that was being built up, and we were left with the hope that everything would be okay. The treatment plan was to have follow-up MRIs every 3 months, just to keep an eye on the tumor.
The next MRI in February indicated that the tumor was indeed growing and doing nothing was no longer an option. On March 14th, in a procedure that lasted 9 ½ hours, the tumor was successfully removed. Unfortunately, the biopsy confirmed our worst fear; the tumor was malignant, caused by an aggressive cancer called pineoblastoma.
The tumor was removed successfully during this extremely dangerous, rare, and difficult surgery. However, an aggressive combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments to attack the cancer will continue for the next 7 ½ months. We will be traveling to Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) every weekday for 7 straight weeks unless we can find a place in or near Boston to stay during that time. Then, after a months of rest, we will be making that same trip a couple times a month for at least 6 more months. These visits will require that Gail be admitted for 2 or 3 days while she undergoes her next round of intensive chemo treatments.
We are trying to secure reduced rate housing in Boston sponsored by either MGH or the American Society. Nonetheless, travel costs, housing, medical co-pays, prescription medications and even the likelihood of lost wages will make this already stressful time a serious financial challenge for us.
As her family and friends all know, Gail has never been one to ask for anything. For her, it has always been just the opposite; she is forever helpful, giving what she can to someone in need and expecting nothing in return. Even now, as she confronts this disease head-on in her own way, she hopes she is not too much of a burden on her family or her medical team as her treatment goes forward. That’s the way she is.
We are asking you to please help us get through this. No donation is too small. Thank you all for your prayers, your thoughts, your kindness and your generosity!
The next MRI in February indicated that the tumor was indeed growing and doing nothing was no longer an option. On March 14th, in a procedure that lasted 9 ½ hours, the tumor was successfully removed. Unfortunately, the biopsy confirmed our worst fear; the tumor was malignant, caused by an aggressive cancer called pineoblastoma.
The tumor was removed successfully during this extremely dangerous, rare, and difficult surgery. However, an aggressive combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments to attack the cancer will continue for the next 7 ½ months. We will be traveling to Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) every weekday for 7 straight weeks unless we can find a place in or near Boston to stay during that time. Then, after a months of rest, we will be making that same trip a couple times a month for at least 6 more months. These visits will require that Gail be admitted for 2 or 3 days while she undergoes her next round of intensive chemo treatments.
We are trying to secure reduced rate housing in Boston sponsored by either MGH or the American Society. Nonetheless, travel costs, housing, medical co-pays, prescription medications and even the likelihood of lost wages will make this already stressful time a serious financial challenge for us.
As her family and friends all know, Gail has never been one to ask for anything. For her, it has always been just the opposite; she is forever helpful, giving what she can to someone in need and expecting nothing in return. Even now, as she confronts this disease head-on in her own way, she hopes she is not too much of a burden on her family or her medical team as her treatment goes forward. That’s the way she is.
We are asking you to please help us get through this. No donation is too small. Thank you all for your prayers, your thoughts, your kindness and your generosity!
Organizer
Kevin McArdle
Organizer
Millbury, MA