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We need Help to Win Terry's Cancer Fight!!

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Terry Schurter is a hard-working, dedicated man who has devoted a big portion of his career to nonprofit organizations, volunteer work, and free mentoring for many up and coming young professionals.

He’s always been the first to jump on problems and support those around him. The people who know Terry understand just exactly how fundamental his view is on giving back to society. His volunteer work even includes free resources through nonprofit www.cipcore.com with over an hour of advanced Critical Infrastructure Protection Training (cybersecurity) free for all utility personnel in North America - because if the "lights go off" we're all in big trouble.

Suddenly all of this has changed for Terry and his family. In 2018 Terry began having multiple nerve issues in his legs (sciatica) and then in his face (trigemenial neuralgia). These continued to worsen, resulting in huge function impacts (mobility, sitting at desk).

Then at the end of June the small consultancy Terry was working with closed. Unexpectedly unemployed in the middle of a move from Texas to Washington, Terry and his spouse Christy made the drive but the entire time Terry’s condition continued to worsen.

Fast forward through regular MDs, an Osteopath, chiropractor, acupuncturist, and medical massage threrapist to Sept. 23rd. That day everything changed. Terry awoke, and his right leg was no longer usable. We bee-lined him to the ER.

That ER visit led to the discovery of cancer that had already metastasized into Terry’s bones - legs, back and shoulders. It’s everywhere. His condition is critical, but his battle is to be no easy feat.

Immediately after detection the cancer hid. It had already caused one Lumbar fracture but a viable cell sample remained elusive. The cancer was everywhere but we had to chase it for 3 months before finally pinning down the specific type of the primary cancer. Test after test, biopsy after biopsy we chased it.

Eventually as his condition worsened another lumbar failure took out his left leg leaving him completely crippled, slave to a walker/wheelchair. This was the 3rd week of December.

The 2nd lumbar failure triggered a panic and an emergency 4+ hour open spine surgery on Christmas Eve.

The surgery has helped reduce the nerve impingement and compression over the L3, L4, and L5 Lumbar. It also got live cancer cells so that after 3 months of searching the primary cancer has been found and Terry's treatment can finally start!

The primary cancer is large b-cell lymphoma (fast, aggressive). The lymphoma is in his bone marrow and bones. Terry’s treatment plan going forward will be IV chemo every 3 weeks for a period of 4 months and physical therapy to help him rebuild strength and mobility. He will start the week of January 14th, 2019. It is going to be a long haul but he’s already fighting and he actually walked 15 steps without support or assistance today! His  survival rate is listed at 50% to 70%.

However, the job loss timing (and insurance loss!) has left us without a safety net so we are using our retirement savings to get by and it’s burning up at an alarming rate. Income loss and medical expenses have already exceeded $50,000 just for 2018 and they probably won’t stop before doubling or tripling that number. Our resources cannot survive this.

So we are seeking to raise $25,000 to offset half of our current losses. If we should be so fortunate to raise more than our goal then the additional funds will used to cover remaining existing expenses as well as the new ones that will soon be coming.

It’s very hard for Terry to ask for help. He’s the one that gives the help, not gets it. But he’s in a corner now where for the first time in his life he really needs help. We certainly hope you can help Terry or spread the word to others who can. We really need the help if we are going to get him healthy again!

Fundraising team: Terry Schurter's Cancer Team (8)

Terry Schurter
Organizer
Raised $2,175 from 13 donations
Battle Ground, WA
Lee Graham
Team member
Raised $450 from 5 donations
Leah Morse
Team member
Raised $400 from 4 donations
Vicki Boles
Team member
Raised $225 from 3 donations
Gwen Clarke Vawter
Team member

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