My name is Laura Libner and I am a 56 year old mother of two children, Dylan and Maya.  Dylan is 25 and has multiple challenges including autism spectrum disorders and significant cognitive impairment.  He lives in a group home, now, but is still very involved and close with our family which consists of myself, Larry, my companion and best friend of 21 years, and Maya, our 18 year old daughter who is currently attending GRCC and works part time as her schedule affords.  

Larry is disabled with a broken back from an injury sustained years ago but still remains as active as he can in his music and art through leather designs, as much as he can, although he is in chronic pain and is a pain patient.  Last summer he sustained a broken shoulder from a dislocation that went badly when the hospital staff tried to push it back in to the socket, breaking some major connective bones that he is still recovering from.  
I understand shoulder injuries are some of the worst! 
Next, in early December, of this past year, Larry was diagnosed with a skin cancer requiring surgery and the wound had to be managed by healing from the inside out-which has been a very difficult road and a very painful one at best.  He's been soldiering through it all, and is still an integral active father and partner, doing as much as he can to help make ends meet.  

I groom dogs and am a watercolor artist.  I currently work at the Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic and have held that position (dog groomer) for 20 years, now, thanks to a superb individual, (my boss) Dr David Thompson, DVM & analgesic editor on VIN. 
The rest of the staff are a small wonderful group of compassionate indiviudals who give real meaning to a "second family" because that's how we remain towards each other.  
I've always been the care taker and the go getter in my own family with my children as well as our pugs, which we love and are also like children to me as anyone knows who has loved a dog the way we do.  They are a constant source of comfort and love to us all.  
 

I've recently not been feeling well- but didn't realize what was going on.  I participate in yoga and try to live in a healthy way to ensure I can be in tip top shape since my job as a dog groomer is a physical one, and I just feel better when I take care of myself..  I concentrate and try to balance my efforts with ongoing issues with the rigors and challenges of having two children who both still need so much from me in so many different ways.  

This past week I was feeling particularly poorly and went to my doctor who couldnt' find anything specifically wrong, so sent me home to rest and see if things improved, etc- before further exploration.  This was this past Wedensday, Feb. 3, 2016.  By Thursday morning, I was in such excruciating pain, with my belly distended in such a bizarre way, I had no idea what was happening, but I could barely breathe and had Larry rush me to the ER down the road from where we live.   After several CT scans, it was determined that I had two large masses on my ovaries...one the size of a cantaloupe, and one the size of a large grapefruit.   When I got the final report, that evening, after being discharged quite abruptly, that morning, I saw what I never expected to see starting me blankly in the face.  Ovarian cancer, metestatic - with masses on the kidneys, paratenium, and stranding other areas, lymph nodes, etc ... I was alone, upstairs, looking at this grave diagnosis, as if it were a script from someone elses life-certainly not mine.. How could this be happening to me??
At that point, I was scared beyond what mere words can express, and all of the little symptoms I'd been feeling that were tell tale signs of things being quite wrong for awhile, that I'd pushed away /ignored, for so long, started making sense.   We called the hospital back and pleaded for some answers as to why I was discharged while I was still very medically unstable- throwing up violently, and the list goes on.   We were connected with a charge nurse who called the director of the hospital who asked me to please go downtown to the campus of Butterworth Hospital, where I could be seen and assessed by a team of experts in all of the areas who could assess my issues and where the cancer was affecting me internally so when the surgery took place, we could have as much information as possible in order to proceed.  I was and am a very sick young lady... and I hate to admit that because I think of myself as strong and resilient. ...
Here it is, Saturday, the 6th of Feb, a mere 3 days later and  I feel like the entire course of my life has been put on hold.  We are on a new path, now.  A descent into what feels like a very dark and narrow place- with sharp edges that wound.  It is only through the  positive input from my friends and close family- that I see the light at the end of the tunnel. 
I haven't had surgery yet- I don't have a date yet but am understanding it will either be this week, or the following and that will then be the beginning of my wounds to heal-from the inside out.  To begin anew, and stay resilient so that I may be here, on this earth to cherish the sweetness of my childrens laughter, our pugs kisses, and share life and love with my parnter, Larry, who has been through so much with me over the past two decades.  

In short, that is a synopsis of what has occurred in the past few short days.. a few days that are indelibly stained into my psyche.  Trying to get away from this crevace- this deep dark chasm of the unknown that is so terrifying to me I simply cannot think too much about it because it's too stark right now- the lonliest place I've ever been and yet, in the same vein, there's been such an outpouring of love and gratitude from friends asking what they can do for me.  

The money generated in this fund will simply be used to help pay for utilities, and groceries for the next several months.  It is really that simple.  I would be eternally greatful for whatever amount we could raise and it's difficult if not impossible to put into words how much this would mean to me.  Knowing that we will be able to pay our bills, and go to the store to buy healthy food, to restore my health will be a huge burdon lifted off my shoulders- all of our shoulders, so that we can concentrate on my healing and winning this battle with this awful cancer that has invaded my body so ruthlessly.    

Anytime in the coming weeks will be helpful to receive any funds which I will safely place in an account that will be strictly set up for our survival to retain some normalcy of a semblence of what life would be like. 

To be able to provide heat, shelter, and nourishment so that my daughter, myself, Larry and the pugs will be able to get through the most difficult challenge I may have ever faced in my life, to date.  I hate to ask for anything, but we have been put in an untenable position of dire circumstances beyond what we ever thought was possible.  I know that there are people out there with goodness in their hearts who will be able to spare whatever they can and be assured it will be used with integrity.    

Thank you from the bottom of my/our hearts- 
Laura Libner