Pierce's Fight Against Cancerous Brain Tumor
Donation protected
In May, 2018, Pierce Scroggins of Pembroke, MA proudly graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Despite a month long hospitalization for an unknown and seemingly unrelated diagnosis earlier in 2018, Pierce made the Dean's List. A fantastic achievement.
Within a month of that wonderful graduation day, his life changed. One afternoon, Pierce complained to his mother (Sue) that he had a headache. That was it. A headache. Physicians in the emergency room insisted that young people get "headaches" all the time. Upon insistence of his mom, Sue - he finally underwent a head CT that quickly revealed a tumor. Within 20 minutes, an emergency shunt was placed to alleviate the pressure in his head and to save his life.
Within days, the team at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (BID) discovered that the tumor was cancerous and extremely rare. Only about 1% of all brain tumors would be of this type. Not only extremely rare, it was also inoperable.
Pierce underwent six aggressive rounds of chemotherapy. While the symptoms of the tumor robbed him of activities of daily living; his ability to communicate, to walk, to swallow, Pierce continued to fight and often times, would surprise his family and doctors by regaining some of his losses. In the seven months that Pierce has been hospitalized, his family has never left his side, (24/7) NEVER (not that any of you ever doubted that!).
Now, seven months since diagnosis, Pierce, his family and his BID care team are trying to navigate his future, both short and long term. Pierce will be faced with new challenges, as will his family. No matter how difficult those challenges might be - as a community, as their extended family, our hope is to help them navigate this very difficult road with as much ease as we can provide.
Pre-Pierce illness, we know that this family; Mark and Sue Scroggins, have helped many organizations, people, families - anyone in need. If you know Mark and Sue - you know that there is NO mountain too high that they would not climb (literally) for a friend or a good cause (too many to list).
We know that their family/friends are many, that they are all over the country and that they/you want to do something to help.
We know how far and deep their roots go and this is why we are inviting you to join us in helping them (you also know they would never ask for help).
We are one of those families that Mark and Sue, and their children have helped in our 18 years of being friends and neighbors - and we; like many want to give back.
We know that they have provided "service" their entire lives to many different communities, selflessly giving of themselves and whatever they had.
We know too well the financial hardship that comes with illness. We know how destructive this can be and how "in the moment" it is, and it often cannot be realized.
We want to help our friends, we are hopeful we are not 7 months too late.
No pressure. If there is something you can and want to add, thank you. If you are unable, thanks to you as well, we know that they would love to hear from you and invite you to send along a card or a note wishing them well (PO Box 1158, Pembroke MA 02359).
Please check back on the site, we will update as appropriate. Feel free to leave messages to the Scroggins family for them to read.
Many, many thanks.
Friends of Mark, Sue, Erin, Pierce and Alec.
Within a month of that wonderful graduation day, his life changed. One afternoon, Pierce complained to his mother (Sue) that he had a headache. That was it. A headache. Physicians in the emergency room insisted that young people get "headaches" all the time. Upon insistence of his mom, Sue - he finally underwent a head CT that quickly revealed a tumor. Within 20 minutes, an emergency shunt was placed to alleviate the pressure in his head and to save his life.
Within days, the team at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital (BID) discovered that the tumor was cancerous and extremely rare. Only about 1% of all brain tumors would be of this type. Not only extremely rare, it was also inoperable.
Pierce underwent six aggressive rounds of chemotherapy. While the symptoms of the tumor robbed him of activities of daily living; his ability to communicate, to walk, to swallow, Pierce continued to fight and often times, would surprise his family and doctors by regaining some of his losses. In the seven months that Pierce has been hospitalized, his family has never left his side, (24/7) NEVER (not that any of you ever doubted that!).
Now, seven months since diagnosis, Pierce, his family and his BID care team are trying to navigate his future, both short and long term. Pierce will be faced with new challenges, as will his family. No matter how difficult those challenges might be - as a community, as their extended family, our hope is to help them navigate this very difficult road with as much ease as we can provide.
Pre-Pierce illness, we know that this family; Mark and Sue Scroggins, have helped many organizations, people, families - anyone in need. If you know Mark and Sue - you know that there is NO mountain too high that they would not climb (literally) for a friend or a good cause (too many to list).
We know that their family/friends are many, that they are all over the country and that they/you want to do something to help.
We know how far and deep their roots go and this is why we are inviting you to join us in helping them (you also know they would never ask for help).
We are one of those families that Mark and Sue, and their children have helped in our 18 years of being friends and neighbors - and we; like many want to give back.
We know that they have provided "service" their entire lives to many different communities, selflessly giving of themselves and whatever they had.
We know too well the financial hardship that comes with illness. We know how destructive this can be and how "in the moment" it is, and it often cannot be realized.
We want to help our friends, we are hopeful we are not 7 months too late.
No pressure. If there is something you can and want to add, thank you. If you are unable, thanks to you as well, we know that they would love to hear from you and invite you to send along a card or a note wishing them well (PO Box 1158, Pembroke MA 02359).
Please check back on the site, we will update as appropriate. Feel free to leave messages to the Scroggins family for them to read.
Many, many thanks.
Friends of Mark, Sue, Erin, Pierce and Alec.
Organizer and beneficiary
Christine McSherry
Organizer
Pembroke, MA
Suzanne Scroggins
Beneficiary