Support Linda Mork's Battle Against Cancer

Dear friends and family!!

My Mom, Linda Mork, is in the midst of the unimaginable right now. A few weeks back she was not feeling well. Her thyroid levels were off and she was started on a new medicine. She was told her symptoms were acid reflux. She was having difficulty keeping food down. Everything she ate came back up. Severe pains in her stomach. Fatigue. She began losing weight. The pain in her stomach became so excrutiating she went to the ER at Lakeview Hospital. They performed a CT scan and that is when her world came crashing down. They found massive tumors. One is attached to her liver. Another is blocking anything from going into her stomach. Another in her lung. She was admitted and treatment began. They first had to drain bile backing up in her body via a tube thru her nose. She had already lost 15 pounds. They tentatively diagnosed her with bile duct cancer. Which is more aggressive than pancreatic cancer. She had to be transferred to Regions Hospital last Thursday. They administered potassium and magnesium through an IV. She has not been able to have anything by mouth since she went to the ER. No food. No water. They performed an endoscopy and biopsy on Friday. Surgeons discussed a feeding tube that would never be taken out after it was put in. She said no. There must be another way. The doctors discussed different surgeries to bypass the tumor to get her eating so they can then begin treatment on the cancer. They decided yesterday she wasn't strong enough for surgery. She needs more nutrients. They also completed another CT scan. They told her it was Stage 4 cancer.

This finally broke her spirit.

She had been so positive and hopeful.

Yesterday afternoon, an oncologist informed her that the diagnostic results from the biopsy confirm she has Diffuse Large B Cell lymphoma, instead of their initial diagnosis. He explained to us that this is a type of blood cancer that is very responsive to chemotherapy. Chemo could potentially "melt away" the tumors. Probably the best possible news she could have imagined given the current situation. There is a spot on her lung they biopsied today though that looks a bit different.

She has lost 25 pounds in less than 3 weeks. Has not had any food or water in over a week. Maybe the hardest part has been sitting in a hospital bed and getting different stories from every doctor that walks in the room.

And she is still smiling. And worried about how everyone else is. She has not complained. She jokes with the hospital staff. All the nurses love her. All the surgeons have her on their radar. The oncologist has been watching her situation since she arrived.

They told her if she is gonna be this strong then they need to put her on the top of their list. Top priority.

She has way too many things she has left to do before her time on this Earth is over. One thing she cannot do right now, is work. Something she takes great pride in and does better than almost anyone I know. Her insurance is not going to cover all of her care and she is worried about her bills.

I urge you to give any amount you can to help her on this scary and unpredictable journey. She doesn't deserve this and is the last person who would ask anyone for help.

There are a lot of unknowns. This journey will be one day at a time. Sending her your love and support is also much appreciated.

Thank you!