Hi, my name is Terry Parker-Cowen and I am hoping to get my dear friend of 25 years, Lisa Towan, some financial help. I can tell you she is a fighter, no, a warrior in her fight against the devil, colon cancer. Lisa is single and has no children. It's just her and her mom trying to make ends meet.

Her cancer journey started in November of 2018 with a diagnosis of Extreme Stage 3 colon cancer. Emergency surgery was performed and Lisa woke up with a temporary colostomy bag and on life support but she pulled through and had 12 rounds of clean-up chemotherapy to remove any remaining microscopic cells, since all the cancer was removed! What a victory!! Then in September 2019 the doctors found more cancer when they reconnected her colon. The 2018 surgery had not gotten all of the cancer. Since the residual cancer that was found was so small, they were not able to do any further chemotherapy at that time and decided increase the frequency of her scans to monitor her and to watch to see if anything grew large enough to show on scans so that they could treat it.

Lisa was doing well and returned to work! She continued to smile throughout her struggles. There were medical and other bills galore even with her insurance. She was tight with funds, but was so happy to be at work again and to move on with her life. Then in February 2021, the cancer came back and had spread to other organs, which now, she was diagnosed as Stage 4. Back on chemo again, but the doctor wanted to try a very scary surgery called HIPEC (Hot Chemo). In December 2021, during the HIPEC surgery, they found cancer in one ovary and fallopian tube. By March of 2022, her first scan after the HIPEC surgery indicated the cancer was already back once again! Back on Chemo she goes! November 2023, they discovered more cancer and decided to do surgery once again...and the last surgery she would EVER be able to have. So far, so good!! She will have her first scan after the November 2023 surgery, today, May 1, 2024. To this day, Lisa has had over 65 chemo sessions. Please say a prayer!

One thing I failed to mention, is that through the rollercoaster of her cancer journey, she has had to take a tremendous amount of time in caring for and assisting her mother, who has been battling various health issues of her own, and has been back and forth to the doctors to try to get the proper diagnoses and treatments. Her mom's health issues continue to require more time and attention as time goes on. She is very concerned about her mom since she has serious health concerns of her own. With the high cost of living with a chronic illness, food, fuel and not to mention the inflation everyone is dealing with, Lisa has reached her highest stress level and severe anxiety (One can only imagine)! Both she and her mom live on fixed incomes.

I have put this together for her so hopefully it will help ease her stress and financial situation. As most of us know, stress is not a good thing especially when you are a cancer patient.

Lisa has always been the first to help someone. She has done many fundraisers for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and of course, colon cancer. She has always had a great attitude and determination. To know her is to love her! Plus, in everything she does, she puts a smile on that face and goes forward. Please do what you can to help ease her financial burden. Every penny we can send her way will help her. Thank you so much for finding it in your heart to help our friend and say a prayer for her too.

Lisa before diagnosis

Lisa with me and my husband prior to diagnosis

That smile!!

Waiting for surgery

Blood draw appointment

At a chemo appointment

Her mom before the increased health issues!