Team Laurie

My name is Kay McAloon and have known Laurie since our days in college. We have been through the good and bad times over the last 30 years, but this last year has really taken a toll on our friend. We met in college when she was studying to become a nurse, which has turned into a true passion of caring for others for her. As you can imagine, for someone who lives to support and uplift her friends and family, it is very hard to make herself vulnerable and reach out to ask for help in what has been an incredibly challenging year The year has been emotionally, physically, and spiritually taxing for Laurie.

As most of you know, in January of this year, Laurie became sick and ended up in the hospital. While in the ER, the CT scans performed showed a large tumor in her colon. Surgery was performed a few days later and they had to remove a portion of the colon and an colostomy bag was placed. The tumor came back as Stage 3B colo-rectal cancer. The tumor had 100% blocked her colon and was penetrating the intestinal wall. Then with a plan in place, she had her port placed and started chemotherapy. After chemotherapy was completed in June, she anxiously awaited for the surgery to reverse the colostomy bag and felt that life was finally improving.

The end of July the surgeon and oncologist determined she was ready for the surgery. Laurie had numerous complications after the surgery, with nausea, pain and a serious intestinal infection. On her follow-up appointment, the surgeon explained that some of the tissue obtained during surgery that was sent to for pathology was cancerous. Laurie is now diagnosed with metastatic colo-rectal cancer and will have to endure 4 more 3 week chemotherapy sessions.

This news was absolutely devasting for Laurie. She had just graduated with her Nurse Practitioner degree as was excited about new adventure and career in her life. Chemotherapy was started again in September and will last through the end of November with the first rounds of chemotherapy and then will be re-evaluated. The oncologist explained that she will probably need a couple more rounds after that and then some form of long-term chemotherapy.

Laurie is incredibly grateful for the support, friendships and encouragement from her friends and family. She knows she is surrounded by the loving and caring people in her life. She is able to work some but is unable to work a regular schedule due to the side effects and the physicians not wanting her to expose herself to infectious situations during the most critical times of chemotherapy immunosuppression. So basically has not worked much since January of this year. It will be probably closer to spring before she is able to return to work full-time if all goes well and as planned. She at this time does not have any benefits for work, so no disability pay is available. As we all do, she still has everyday expenses to handle and as money is increasing becoming tighter it has caused an emotional toll for someone who has been so independent and proud.

Laurie is one of the strongest people I know and would be there to help anyone in need. Now, lets give some love and support back to her. Anything you can donate is truly appreciated and will help relieve some of the stress she is experiencing and allow her body to rest and heal appropriately. With much love thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.

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