Support Tina Demery's Fight Against Glioblastoma Grade 4

I’ve always been told I’ve never met a stranger, so my name is Tina Demery, a wife of 25+ years, a mother of 5, a former Girl Scout leader / Mentor for 16 years, and I’m currently a Family Advocate for Henrico County Public Schools along with being a voice for the Latino population in my school.

I wanted to wait until I could speak to my family members before sharing this publicly. I didn’t realize how strong I needed to be until being strong became my only choice.

To my family and friends, I’d like to update you on my current condition. On February 5th, I had a minor stroke that left me unable to walk and affected my left side. Since then, I’ve been undergoing physical and occupational therapy. Unfortunately, the challenges didn’t stop there. On March 5th, a brain biopsy conducted on February 14th revealed that I have Glioblastoma (GBM), a grade 4 brain cancer. This is my third battle with cancer; my first two were Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—stage 1 in 2003 and stage 4 in 2005. The significant difference now is that I’m facing a different type of cancer, and regardless of the statistics, I am determined to fight.

I recently completed a 30-day course of radiation and 42 days of chemotherapy, and I’m grateful to say that I’ve experienced minimal side effects—just a bit of hair loss. My spirits are high, and I am focusing on my recovery. My main goals are stability and improving my quality of life. Starting in June, I’ll resume chemotherapy for 5 days on and 23 days off each month. I have an MRI scheduled for May 17th, and I am asking all my prayer warriors to lift me and my family in prayer during this time.

The costs associated with my GBM treatment and the ongoing care create financial strain and logistical challenges for my family, and I genuinely don’t want to put that burden on them. While I know I should focus on my health rather than medical bills, it weighs heavily on my heart.

I’ve never been good at accepting or asking for help, but I’ve reached a point where I can no longer avoid it. Since February 5th, I haven’t been able to work, which has put a major financial strain on my family. Therefore, I’m creating a GoFundMe account to help alleviate some of these burdens. Whether through a call, words of support, a donation, sharing my story, or sending prayers filled with positive and healing energy, all forms of support are welcomed and deeply appreciated. This will allow me to focus on this very real fight.

One thing I can say for certain is that my faith in God has never wavered. I am dedicated to living in the moment and being present, and my spirits remain high.

Thank you all so much for your support. Love,