Running for Aunt Karen
Donation protected
As some of you may know, in a couple weeks I am running the Walt Disney World Marathon. I have decided to run in support of my Aunt Karen.
A year ago my 60 year old aunt thought she was having a bad stomach virus, but after a long stay at the hospital, many tests, and finally a brain biopsy, doctors discovered she had a glioblastoma. A glioblastoma or GBM is the most common and deadliest of malignant primary brain tumors in adults, and is one of a group of tumors referred to as gliomas. Although treatment can help, there is no cure for this type of brain cancer. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy in the form of a pill, but neither shrunk the tumors. Unfortunately she has not been deemed as an ideal candidate for any trial immunotherapies or other surgeries which have been proven to increase the longevity of others living with GBM. As another option she began Avastin, which is a tumor-starving therapy. The purpose of Avastin is to prevent the growth of new blood vessels. This includes normal blood vessels and blood vessels that feed tumors. Although this treatment has shrunken the size of the tumors, they continue to swell and cause damage. My aunt is now unable to go up and down any stairs independently, get in and out of chairs and pick up her own grandchildren. Swelling of tumors impair movement on the right side of her body and her ability to speak and think. Steroids, although helpful, with swelling are causing other large muscles to break down.
Aunt Karen is a loving grandmother, mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend to many. I would love to be able to support her fight by providing some peace of mind through financial support of her medical expenses.
I cannot think of a more deserving family and appreciate any support you may be able to provide.
A year ago my 60 year old aunt thought she was having a bad stomach virus, but after a long stay at the hospital, many tests, and finally a brain biopsy, doctors discovered she had a glioblastoma. A glioblastoma or GBM is the most common and deadliest of malignant primary brain tumors in adults, and is one of a group of tumors referred to as gliomas. Although treatment can help, there is no cure for this type of brain cancer. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy in the form of a pill, but neither shrunk the tumors. Unfortunately she has not been deemed as an ideal candidate for any trial immunotherapies or other surgeries which have been proven to increase the longevity of others living with GBM. As another option she began Avastin, which is a tumor-starving therapy. The purpose of Avastin is to prevent the growth of new blood vessels. This includes normal blood vessels and blood vessels that feed tumors. Although this treatment has shrunken the size of the tumors, they continue to swell and cause damage. My aunt is now unable to go up and down any stairs independently, get in and out of chairs and pick up her own grandchildren. Swelling of tumors impair movement on the right side of her body and her ability to speak and think. Steroids, although helpful, with swelling are causing other large muscles to break down.
Aunt Karen is a loving grandmother, mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend to many. I would love to be able to support her fight by providing some peace of mind through financial support of her medical expenses.
I cannot think of a more deserving family and appreciate any support you may be able to provide.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Goss
Organizer
Massapequa, NY
John Mirando
Beneficiary