With a heavy heart, we share that our beloved mother and Grammy was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with pancreatic cancer. This came as a shock as Grammy only thought she had the flu when she went to her doctor. After spending 5 days and 4 nights at the Elliot Hospital waiting for a surgeon who could perform more testing, she finally received an appointment with a specialist in Concord, NH. The news wasn't great, but it wasn't all bad either. Lesley's tumor is on her pancreas near the duodenum and in its current size and location, cannot be operated upon. Her course of treatment will consist of 4 months of chemotherapy, at the end of which, we hope the tumor will have stopped growing and even shrunk, making its removal possible through surgical operation. 2 more months of chemotherapy will then follow. It's a scary road ahead, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The cancer has not spread anywhere else, and if she had to have pancreatic cancer, this diagnosis is close to the best for which we could have hoped.

In the coming weeks and months, Lesley and her husband of 45 years, Lawrence, will travel to and from Dartmouth-Hitchcock cancer centers in Concord and Lebanon, NH every other week for treatments and appointments. Both are retired and on fixed incomes, which will present challenges with travel, living, and medical expenses for this unexpected turn of events. While Medicare does cover the bulk of her treatments, Lesley now requires special medicine for sugar regulation as the pancreas controls insulin production in the body, meaning my mother is now a diabetic for the first time in her 69-year life (70 this June!!!!!). This medicine is not covered by Medicare and comes at quite the cost.

We are asking our friends and family to consider making a donation to help with the costs associated with Lesley's care, travel, and with meals at home (Nunu is not a chef....). Any donation is appreciated, no matter how small.

Lesley raised 5 children in Bedford, NH, and is a graduate of Trinity High School Class of 1973, one of the first classes to graduate under the school's new name. She later met Lawrence in 1979, and they married shortly thereafter. Patrick, Ryan, and Courtney soon followed as Chris and Erin entered into Central High School. Lesley helped raise all of her 7 grandchildren and helped educate hundreds of students in the Bedford and Manchester school systems, both with her volunteerism and paraprofessional positions over the years. Never one to accept the limelight, Lesley has always put her family first and helped each of us no matter the cause.

It's now our time to help her in her time of need, and we ask that you share this link with whomever you can by posting to social media and texting it out. If she has touched upon your life, please consider helping her now.

In appreciation,

Patrick, Ryan, Courtney, Erin, Christopher, and Lawrence (children and husband)

Ruby, Will, Sam, Maddie, Haylee, Hannah, and Tommy (grandchildren)