Support Stasia's Fight Against Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer

Stand With Stasia

On June 19, 2022, my sister Stasia took herself to the emergency room in severe pain. Her blood tests and scans revealed a dreadful diagnosis......... she had advanced stage pancreatic cancer. Within 72 hours she had Whipple surgery removing parts of her GI system and related organs and spent nearly seven weeks in the hospital. That was just the beginning of her journey. Over the next two years Stasia underwent two grueling regimens of chemotherapy and other treatments. She logged more than 150 visits to the hospital and met with countless doctors to address her illness and treat the relentless side effects from the surgery and the multitude of medications. Today she is volunteering to be part of a clinical trial for a targeted therapy drug, with the hope of advancing the treatment options and more importantly, improving the survival rates, for those battling pancreatic cancer.

Since day one, Stasia has never stopped fighting to beat the odds and prove that her life is more than a statistic. Stas was a personal trainer for the elderly, who enjoyed working out (even ran the NYC Marathon!) and loved riding her bike everywhere.

Now, she has to endure a daily struggle against pain, fatigue and other mental and physical challenges. Staying alive has become her full-time job. Her greatest motivation to continue fighting this awful disease is her daughter, Ava, who will be graduating college this year. Being there to watch Ava launch into her young adulthood fuels Stasia’s determination to power through the pain and sickness so she can continue to make new memories with her daughter. Stas also treasures the brief moments of joy or quality time with close friends and loved ones.

While Stasia is grateful for every one of those cherished moments and is determined to keep fighting for more of them, the reality is that such rewards cannot pay the bills that continue to accumulate. We ask for your support by making a small donation to help Stasia in her ongoing battle against Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We appreciate your generosity along with your prayers and positive thoughts. Stand with Stasia.

With immense gratitude,

Gayle