Rare just like Emilia

This is in support of my beautiful sister, who is battling a cancer that is as rare as she is.

Emilia is a wife, mother and a new grandmother who retired a few years ago and had put her life on hold while helping her growing family and aging parents. That is the type of person she is, always ready to help in any way possible. She is nothing short of kind, generous and loving.

She now needs our help along with our prayers.

In March 2023 after months of insomnia and headaches that would not subside, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare aggressive Cancer of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity referred to as SMARCB1 (INI-1) Stage 4B Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma.

Her journey from diagnosis to treatment was nothing short of a nightmare due to our troubled healthcare System. Although she was continually told by her doctors how crucial it was to start treatment asap due to the aggressiveness of the Cancer, after two different hospitals and endless waits for scans and MRI’s she finally ended up at Princess Margaret in Toronto. While waiting again for more scans her tumor was growing each day. Her left side of her face was swelling, her eye was bulging and breathing from her nose was no longer an option due to the tumor now visible from the nostril. The headaches were extremely intense, but the scariest moment was the loss of vision in the one eye.

She finally started radiation on June 5th requiring 7 weeks of daily treatment accompanied by Chemo once a week. The radiation was so intense as they had this one chance to kill the tumor. Due to the extremely delicate area of the face and neck, she required a feeding tube as swallowing and eating was no longer an option.

No one should have to endure this amount of pain and suffering. Although it felt hopeless at times, she found the courage and strength to carry on and see this through. It takes a special type of person to do that.

Although the tumor has shrunk significantly, it remains present.

The effects of the radiation are more than likely permanent and will change her life forever.

Canada does not have Proton radiation therapy which is a standard therapy in other countries for head and skull tumors and especially required for Children. The treatment targets the tumor and spares healthy tissues and organs from unnecessary radiation.

Her doctor had indicated, this is a type of cancer that you cannot leave a cell behind.

At this point, she was told to wait and redo some of the scans in October, but Radiation and Chemo are no longer an option. The likelihood of any possible new treatments was vague and left little hope for the future.

As waiting can be detrimental, it was necessary to seek other treatments outside of Canada.

Emilia’s next plan is to go to a Cancer Centre that has the expertise in carrying for people with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers. This will include treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSK) in New York.

As we all know, these treatments can be very costly, and the funds raised will help cover for the treatment and some of the travel expenses and accommodations required.

The decision to continue her fight must be made now as she is a little stronger and able to make the necessary journey at this time.

We appreciate you donating anything you can, thank you for your compassion and kindness.

God Bless You.