SHELLY’S SQUAD
Today is Monday, October 19, 2020. As I write this, my niece Sheila, my Doodlebug is undergoing her first treatment of chemotherapy for stage 4 metastatic melanoma.
In August of 2019, Sheila was experiencing earaches and swelling on her jawline. At the strong urging of our family, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor. She was then sent to Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for an emergency appointment. She was told that she had 3 tumors on the base of her jawline that had intertwined themselves around her nerves. At this point, the doctors were not sure if the tumors were cancerous or not, but they immediately scheduled surgery. Two of the tumors were removed, but the third could not be removed due to its placement. After a biopsy, it was determined Sheila had stage 4 melanoma. Sheila was then given a PET Scan, which showed she had several tumors throughout her body, including her organs and brain. Sheila went into the infusion center at Massachusetts General Hospital every 2 weeks for immunotherapy and fluids. After a few rounds of treatment, a scan had revealed that cancer had metastasized to her brain in 3 different spots. Where immunotherapy cannot penetrate the brain wall, radiation was decided, and she started her first round. In true Sheila fashion, she knocked it out of the park. She was then scheduled for a clinical trial to freeze the tumors on her adrenal glands with the hopes of jump-starting her immune system to battle cancer. This procedure was not successful. Another scan found more tumors and Sheila was scheduled for her second round of radiation, targeting her ribs. The scan also showed a tumor on her right breast, which was scheduled to be removed in September of 2020. Recently, Sheila has had difficulty breathing. After her last scan, it was discovered that the blood vessel that runs from her neck to her lungs was completely taken over by cancer. Her doctors have hope that chemotherapy will shrink the cancer in that vessel so Sheila can proceed with Interleukin-2, immunotherapy that activates the immune system to kill melanoma cells and shrink tumors, wherever they develop in the body. This treatment requires a two-week stay alone in the hospital. Sheila is a vibrant young woman who has accomplished so much. She graduated from Johnson and Whales University with a degree in Culinary Arts, a passion she has had since an early age. She then transferred to Boston University where she plans to get her BA in Hospitality Management. Unfortunately, last year she had to withdraw for medical reasons but plans to finish when she is able to.
As I stated before, Sheila is fearless and determined. Even with insurance, her co-payments are in excess of $400.00 not including prescriptions, food, gas, and parking, on top of treatment and procedure payments. As Sheila continues with the chemotherapy she will ultimately have to be secluded with her mother and her sisters who have traveled from Illinois to be by her side during this difficult time. Please consider a small donation to help Sheila and her family with their medical and daily expenses. She is a young lady who deserves to concentrate on her future and not the expenses that are overwhelming her as she fights this evil that is cancer. My niece is a stronger woman than I will ever be, and she is only 22 years old.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for your continued love, support, and prayers.
Today is Monday, October 19, 2020. As I write this, my niece Sheila, my Doodlebug is undergoing her first treatment of chemotherapy for stage 4 metastatic melanoma.
In August of 2019, Sheila was experiencing earaches and swelling on her jawline. At the strong urging of our family, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor. She was then sent to Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary for an emergency appointment. She was told that she had 3 tumors on the base of her jawline that had intertwined themselves around her nerves. At this point, the doctors were not sure if the tumors were cancerous or not, but they immediately scheduled surgery. Two of the tumors were removed, but the third could not be removed due to its placement. After a biopsy, it was determined Sheila had stage 4 melanoma. Sheila was then given a PET Scan, which showed she had several tumors throughout her body, including her organs and brain. Sheila went into the infusion center at Massachusetts General Hospital every 2 weeks for immunotherapy and fluids. After a few rounds of treatment, a scan had revealed that cancer had metastasized to her brain in 3 different spots. Where immunotherapy cannot penetrate the brain wall, radiation was decided, and she started her first round. In true Sheila fashion, she knocked it out of the park. She was then scheduled for a clinical trial to freeze the tumors on her adrenal glands with the hopes of jump-starting her immune system to battle cancer. This procedure was not successful. Another scan found more tumors and Sheila was scheduled for her second round of radiation, targeting her ribs. The scan also showed a tumor on her right breast, which was scheduled to be removed in September of 2020. Recently, Sheila has had difficulty breathing. After her last scan, it was discovered that the blood vessel that runs from her neck to her lungs was completely taken over by cancer. Her doctors have hope that chemotherapy will shrink the cancer in that vessel so Sheila can proceed with Interleukin-2, immunotherapy that activates the immune system to kill melanoma cells and shrink tumors, wherever they develop in the body. This treatment requires a two-week stay alone in the hospital. Sheila is a vibrant young woman who has accomplished so much. She graduated from Johnson and Whales University with a degree in Culinary Arts, a passion she has had since an early age. She then transferred to Boston University where she plans to get her BA in Hospitality Management. Unfortunately, last year she had to withdraw for medical reasons but plans to finish when she is able to.
As I stated before, Sheila is fearless and determined. Even with insurance, her co-payments are in excess of $400.00 not including prescriptions, food, gas, and parking, on top of treatment and procedure payments. As Sheila continues with the chemotherapy she will ultimately have to be secluded with her mother and her sisters who have traveled from Illinois to be by her side during this difficult time. Please consider a small donation to help Sheila and her family with their medical and daily expenses. She is a young lady who deserves to concentrate on her future and not the expenses that are overwhelming her as she fights this evil that is cancer. My niece is a stronger woman than I will ever be, and she is only 22 years old.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for your continued love, support, and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sheila Abdallah
Beneficiary