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Liz's Fight Against Cancer: Your Help Matters

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We are raising money to help my sister, Liz Chirch and her family, with her expenses as she fights cancer.

It started last April with a cough that she thought nothing of, a cold. But after 6 weeks of persistent coughing, she went to the doctor. She continued to get worse and she was referred to specialists. It started affecting her breathing and eating. She could no longer climb a flight of stairs without taking a break. After 6 months of countless
opinions, suggestions, doctors, tests and medicines, she finally started getting some answers. Her breathing test showed she was only getting 45% of the air she should be and her new chest x-ray showed she had lost a lung. Her left lung had collapsed. After more appointments and a CT scan, a mass was detected at the top of her lung. She later went back for a bronchoscopy and they took biopsies of the mass and several inflamed lymph nodes. Then we waited.

At the end of October, I got the call. She has cancer. Large B-cell lymphoma. We cried. Then we researched. I don't think anyone who found out that day slept much. Liz probably didn't sleep at all. Researching treatments, treatment centers, doctors.... everything.

Once all the decisions were made, we waited. The doctor warned her that things would get worse before they start getting better. She did have a few good days after the first treatment, but has had many more terrible ones. Some days are a lack of energy, a lack of sleep and most are still full of coughing and choking. A couple days were uniquely horrible this last week. The mass at the top of her lung had shifted or changed and now appears to be blocking her esophagus. She was not able to drink anything, not even a small sip of water.

As I write this, she has just completed her second treatment. More tests are required due to the problems with swallowing. Steroids and other medication have been given and seem to be helping her to start drinking small amounts again, but the coughing and choking continues. Each sip of water she takes causes her to cough and choke for 20 minutes or more. She has a long journey ahead. She has lost enough muscle mass that moving has become difficult and she rarely leaves her bed.

She needs more than just our prayers and well wishes. She and her family need our help as they miss work for treatments and doctor visits (Liz may be not be back to work for some time now). As their bills for treatments and doctor visits and prescriptions increase, they will be overwhelming very quickly.

When you are planning your donations to your church, your school fundraisers, and Santa's Red Kettles in front of every store as you do your holiday shopping, please consider helping out Liz and her family. Your donations will make a tremendous impact in reducing their stress and help them focus on their healing journey.

We sincerely thank you for your generous support and prayers in this difficult time!
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Donations 

  • Nancy Bell
    • $50
    • 30 mins
  • Vincent Preston
    • $50
    • 22 d
  • Mary Hall
    • $100
    • 30 d
  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 1 mo
  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 1 mo
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Organizer and beneficiary

Charles Crees
Organizer
Altoona, IA
Elizabeth Crees
Beneficiary

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