Maura Sullivan's Cancer Fund
Donation protected
Many of you have been following and supporting Maura over the past 3 years in her fight against metastatic colon cancer.
For those of you who don't know Maura's story, she was diagnosed in December of 2017 with stage four adenocarcinoma. Surgery followed to remove tumors from her colon and liver, after which, chemotherapy ensued. A year later, the cancer in her liver returned and she underwent another liver resection surgery as well as gallbladder surgery to remove the tumors. This was followed by more aggressive chemotherapy (including 4 months of oral chemo which proved to be a more debilitating course of chemotherapy). It was a good news/bad news scenario this Fall for her. The good news - her scans were clean, the bad news - a schwannoma appeared in her lower spine. A schwannoma is a tumor that grows in the sheaths of nerves in your peripheral nervous system, or the parts of your nervous system in your brain or spinal cord. Yet to be determined to be cancerous or not, the only way to know for sure is to do surgery and take a biopsy. Because the tumor is entwined with nerves etc. (and there are other major issues going on with her lower discs and vertebrae) a biopsy has a 40% chance of major complications, one of which is leaving Maura paralyzed. As it is currently, she is barely able to walk…the pain in her groin and back is excruciating and leaves her in tears. Her neurosurgeon has agreed to monitor her situation and do another MRI after Christmas so he can compare the scans and see how quickly or slowly the Schwannoma is growing. If it is determined that Maura is going to need yet another operation, than another lengthy recovery period is in store for her. In addition, radiation is also being considered. Maura’s lack of mobility, chemo side effects and the additional tumors she is now dealing with leave her unable to work. We are hoping and praying that her friends and family can help once again by donating to this Go Fund Me page set up on her behalf.
Her treatment regimens have been grueling and have taken their toll on her. Donating is one way we can all help alleviate some of Maura’s stress and to literally get Maura up and moving again. The reality is that there is still a long road ahead for Maura. While she continues to be positive, finding hope and humor at every turn, she has been unable to work since her original diagnosis in December of 2017 and is struggling to cover just her basic living expenses - that’s why she needs our continued financial support so she can focus on healing rather than the stress and financial burden that comes with these ongoing health issues. We hope you will share this link on your FB pages and ask others to donate and share on their pages as well. Through her music, humor, attitude and love of life she has touched so many of us. She really needs us now.
It is with a sincere heart that I know Maura and her family and friends are grateful in advance for your generosity, continued support and for keeping Maura in your prayers.
For those of you who don't know Maura's story, she was diagnosed in December of 2017 with stage four adenocarcinoma. Surgery followed to remove tumors from her colon and liver, after which, chemotherapy ensued. A year later, the cancer in her liver returned and she underwent another liver resection surgery as well as gallbladder surgery to remove the tumors. This was followed by more aggressive chemotherapy (including 4 months of oral chemo which proved to be a more debilitating course of chemotherapy). It was a good news/bad news scenario this Fall for her. The good news - her scans were clean, the bad news - a schwannoma appeared in her lower spine. A schwannoma is a tumor that grows in the sheaths of nerves in your peripheral nervous system, or the parts of your nervous system in your brain or spinal cord. Yet to be determined to be cancerous or not, the only way to know for sure is to do surgery and take a biopsy. Because the tumor is entwined with nerves etc. (and there are other major issues going on with her lower discs and vertebrae) a biopsy has a 40% chance of major complications, one of which is leaving Maura paralyzed. As it is currently, she is barely able to walk…the pain in her groin and back is excruciating and leaves her in tears. Her neurosurgeon has agreed to monitor her situation and do another MRI after Christmas so he can compare the scans and see how quickly or slowly the Schwannoma is growing. If it is determined that Maura is going to need yet another operation, than another lengthy recovery period is in store for her. In addition, radiation is also being considered. Maura’s lack of mobility, chemo side effects and the additional tumors she is now dealing with leave her unable to work. We are hoping and praying that her friends and family can help once again by donating to this Go Fund Me page set up on her behalf.
Her treatment regimens have been grueling and have taken their toll on her. Donating is one way we can all help alleviate some of Maura’s stress and to literally get Maura up and moving again. The reality is that there is still a long road ahead for Maura. While she continues to be positive, finding hope and humor at every turn, she has been unable to work since her original diagnosis in December of 2017 and is struggling to cover just her basic living expenses - that’s why she needs our continued financial support so she can focus on healing rather than the stress and financial burden that comes with these ongoing health issues. We hope you will share this link on your FB pages and ask others to donate and share on their pages as well. Through her music, humor, attitude and love of life she has touched so many of us. She really needs us now.
It is with a sincere heart that I know Maura and her family and friends are grateful in advance for your generosity, continued support and for keeping Maura in your prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Laurel Beer
Organizer
Silver Spring, MD
Maura Sullivan
Beneficiary
