Living With Grace: Lorraine Castagna Cancer Fund

I am reaching out today with a heavy heart and request for urgent help. My mother Lorraine Castagna more than ever needs our help, and so I am turning to all of you, the community, the village, in hopes that by some miracle we will find a piece of magic in this world that will rise up to meet my dear mother.

Lorraine's story:

My loving mother Lorraine "Rainey" Castagna has been battling cancer. since the end of 2017. It first presented as lung cancer and spread to her brain shortly after her diagnosis. She had Lung surgery in 2017, a major brain surgery in the start of 2018 and the cancer has been stubborn and persistent and has come back in her brain 3/4 times and was radiated with pin point radiation, whole brain radiation each of those 3/4 times and so far it has been a great challenge.

On June 22nd at 3:02pm I took my mother on a ride to get her out of the house and she experienced a catastrophic seizure due to necrosis from radiation treatment that lasted 5 days long. It has left her unable to walk and either in bed or a wheel chair and now having only minimal use of her left arm/hand. During this very challenging journey she has had 3 hospital stays, two of them at Sloan and has been in two rehabs since June 22nd and is due to come home on October 26th 2023 still unable to walk or stand.

History:

My mother was a registered nurse for over 30 years spending most of her career in the Bronx at Einstein hospital giving unconditionally to others in need. She was the head of the vascular unit and has worked in emergency medicine, sports medicine as well as many other units through out her career.

Call To Action:

An urgent most important need is getting her to cancer treatments and Dr. appointments. I am trying to raise money for a wheel chair accessible van to take her to and from appointments. I am praying that this magic finds her and we are able to provide this key element so she can continue receiving treatment which has kept her alive and going since 2017.

How you can make a difference:

If you can find it in your hearts to donate or share this with one other person, or a group, your friends, and on your social networks to make a difference for my mothers care would fill our hearts. Your help and prayers can make this challenging situation turn into something manageable and we would be ever so grateful.

Team Lorraine:

Let's band together as a compassionate community and village to support Lorraine on her journey in her new way of life. Our collective efforts can provide her with the strength, resources, and love she needs to overcome these unfortunate series of events.

For you mum.

James Dickson