The Westrich Family

In the beginning of July, Lauren was admitted to the hospital in what she thought was going to be a routine scope procedure to clear a blocked duct in her G.I. tract. However, during the procedure the doctor found a 15mm mass. The pathology came back and it is a rare form of cancer called Ampullary Adenocarcinoma.

Although the mass is very small and THANK GOD was found pretty early, it is located in a very hard-to-reach place that is surrounded by the pancreas, gallbladder, and small intestines.

Lauren got in to see a well-known doctor at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He is recommending Lauren have a Whipple surgery, which is a major surgery that will be performed on August 16th. She will have at least a five-day stay in the hospital and then, from what we understand, a potentially lengthy recovery.

We also pray no cancer has spread to any lymph nodes so that after the surgery, Lauren doesn't have to undergo chemo or radiation. This would be the absolute best outcome!

Once the surgery is complete, this has a 65-70% cure rate for patients, so we are thinking positively about going into this unforeseen curve in the road.

Lauren is a full time wedding and portrait photographer so her diagnosis and surgery could not have come at a worse time. Heading into the fall season, which is the busiest time of year for her, she will have to sit out from photographing weddings and portrait sessions that she had previously planned.

She will have to take things day by day as to when she will be able to return to work. This will likely put a large strain on her family financially for this year. That is why this page was created to help cover the expenses of trips to her doctors in St. Louis, overnight stays, meals, everyday living expenses, keeping the kids' lives as normal as possible, etc.

Your donation and support will allow Lauren and her family to focus on recovery and quality time, instead of the financial burden this diagnosis brings. Thank You for all the love, support, and encouragement we have already received from family and friends! It means the world to us! Our village is strong and we couldn’t be more grateful!

Would you like to sign up to provide a meal? You can do that here.

Maybe you're wondering... Who is Lydia? Lydia is a friend of the Westrich and Spencer family. All funds raised will go directly to Lauren and her family's bank account.