Support Sherry Loonstra
Our friend and colleague Sherry Loonstra was diagnosed with an osteoblastic osteosarcoma near the temporal lobe of her brain after suffering pain in her right ear since October 2017. She underwent 3 rounds of chemotherapy starting in April 2018. Unfortunately, the tumor did not respond to the chemotherapy as expected. She then underwent angiograms, bone scans and repeat MRI testing and surgery was undertaken to remove the tumor on Aug 2, 2018. Sherry started to have dizzy spells and double vision in her right eye in February and a visit to the ER revealed that her December MRI showed possible regrowth of the cancer. This was confirmed with a second MRI
The surgeons cannot go in again. They went as far as they could and the regrowth is by her brain stem. She will be going for specialized radiation therapy. The procedure will be covered but air, hotel, food and expenses will likely not be. Treatment will last at least 6 weeks. She will be treated as an outpatient. Either proton radiation in the USA or a more experimental but potentially more potent carbon radiation in Japan have been proposed. As of today, it looks like Japan will be happening. We want Sherry to get ready for her treatment without concern about how she will afford it. Please consider donating this campaign and supporting Sherry to get the treatment she needs.
Sherry is currently on a liquid diet via stomach tube and is on many medications every day. She is sleepier than usual given the meds that are trying to get her headache pain under control. She can drink however and likes visitors (call first). She has a particular love of Starbucks and Macs Frosters (cherry coke layered with vanilla soft serve size large). For those that want to see her we are having a runner club gathering at the DERRICK CLUB this Sunday April 7 at 10:30 am. While it is mostly the run club members that will be there please drop by if you want to see her and haven't had a chance yet. Coffee and tea will be served.
Lastly thank you to all of Sherry's support system - friends and family. From taking care of her pets to bringing her to appointments to visiting and making encouraging comments on her kicking cancer facebook group, handing out in hospital hallways and visiting her at home I know she is very touched. She needs our support now more than ever.
