
Lori's Treatment Fund
Donation protected
A dear friend and colleague, Lori Cathey, is going through an impossible medical situation. I watch this woman fight daily through the pain in order to provide excellent learning for her students who are learning English. I had the privilege to get to know Lori through the union when she was the president of our local chapter. She is a fierce advocate for public education and has given so much to the profession. Unfortunately, her insurance won't cover the surgery she needs. Please see her story below. If you'd like to donate to her Venmo, her handle is: @lori-Cathey-1.
My name is Lori Cathey. In February of 2018, I began having pain in my lower right abdomen. It would come and go, sometimes being very intense and other times just achy. In March, I went to see my doctor who suggested it could be appendicitis, but that was unlikely since it would come and go. In April, I went to have my annual exam with my Obgyn. She was examining me and noticed how painful/tender my abdomen was. I then explained what had been happening. She scheduled me for a CT the next day.
The day after the CT scan, I was told it was likely that I had Pseudomyxoma peritonei. The following week I had surgery to remove my appendix and do some biopsies. My surgeon called days later and explained that they didn’t know what I had since my appendix was clear and the pathology wasn’t something they had seen before. They sent the biopsy to Mayo Clinic and Froedtert Hospital. Froedtert was the first to respond and I was referred to Dr. Calisia Clarke. After an exploratory surgery there, I was diagnosed with benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma. I was able to have surgery to remove all visible tumors at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee with Dr. Calisia Clarke in July of 2018. At that point it was believed that she was able to remove all of the cancer.
Approximately six months later I began having symptoms of a recurrence. I then had another surgery in July 2019 along with HIPEC. I was pain free from October to December. In January of this year I began having symptoms. A CT in February showed some fluid, but my pain level kept increasing. Dr. Calisia Clarke suggested that I see a hernia surgeon, that may be causing the pain. I was scheduled for surgery on June 24th. A CT scan from June 12, showed another recurrence.
I am in pain constantly and no one here in Wisconsin will do anything about the pain. My doctor tells me to talk to my surgeon, my surgeon tells me to talk to the hernia specialist, they tell me to talk to a pain management center. The pain management center says that they haven’t heard of what I have, so I should talk to my oncologist. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves me unable to do some of the most basic things.
I have 3 children, a husband and mom who worry about me every day. I am a middle school teacher. I need answers and a plan. With travel to Dr. Sugarbaker in Washington DC and medical costs, we are looking for $30,000.
My name is Lori Cathey. In February of 2018, I began having pain in my lower right abdomen. It would come and go, sometimes being very intense and other times just achy. In March, I went to see my doctor who suggested it could be appendicitis, but that was unlikely since it would come and go. In April, I went to have my annual exam with my Obgyn. She was examining me and noticed how painful/tender my abdomen was. I then explained what had been happening. She scheduled me for a CT the next day.
The day after the CT scan, I was told it was likely that I had Pseudomyxoma peritonei. The following week I had surgery to remove my appendix and do some biopsies. My surgeon called days later and explained that they didn’t know what I had since my appendix was clear and the pathology wasn’t something they had seen before. They sent the biopsy to Mayo Clinic and Froedtert Hospital. Froedtert was the first to respond and I was referred to Dr. Calisia Clarke. After an exploratory surgery there, I was diagnosed with benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma. I was able to have surgery to remove all visible tumors at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee with Dr. Calisia Clarke in July of 2018. At that point it was believed that she was able to remove all of the cancer.
Approximately six months later I began having symptoms of a recurrence. I then had another surgery in July 2019 along with HIPEC. I was pain free from October to December. In January of this year I began having symptoms. A CT in February showed some fluid, but my pain level kept increasing. Dr. Calisia Clarke suggested that I see a hernia surgeon, that may be causing the pain. I was scheduled for surgery on June 24th. A CT scan from June 12, showed another recurrence.
I am in pain constantly and no one here in Wisconsin will do anything about the pain. My doctor tells me to talk to my surgeon, my surgeon tells me to talk to the hernia specialist, they tell me to talk to a pain management center. The pain management center says that they haven’t heard of what I have, so I should talk to my oncologist. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves me unable to do some of the most basic things.
I have 3 children, a husband and mom who worry about me every day. I am a middle school teacher. I need answers and a plan. With travel to Dr. Sugarbaker in Washington DC and medical costs, we are looking for $30,000.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Pamperin Cram
Organizer
Bonduel, WI
Lori Cathey
Beneficiary