Cancer story

2011 Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She under went a mastectomy and chemotherapy and all the horrible recovery and side effects.  The same year she under went breast reconstruction surgery, using the TRAM lap procedure.  She endured several painful corrective surgeries to repair the lap procedure.  This is the only picture you will ever see of her pain and sadness.  She wanted to honor all those who had been here.  This was in the middle of chemotherapy and it portrays the truth of the pain, confusion, disparity and loneliness chemo causes.   She can’t describe what it felt like so she’s hoping to represent chemo patients whom have experienced this place. “Battle of the chemo patient”

In August of 2013 she developed a hernia in the area where the muscle was removed that was used to reconstruct the  breast.  She had mesh surgery which failed 3 months later and had to have another mesh implanted.  Only a small amount of the first mesh was removed because the remaining was attached to other organs from the scar tissue.

When she had a CT scan at Froedtert hospital to determine the condition and location of the failed mesh they also found the second cancer in the other breast.  It was suggested that the cancer be addressed first.  

She again endured another mastectomy a long painful recovery and the horrible side effects of chemotherapy.


After finally healing well enough from the mastectomy and the debilitating side effects of the chemo, she bravely faced another hernia mesh surgery.  Which was successful but again a very long and painful recovery and without income.

In December of 2017 she was diagnosed with stage four reoccurrence breast cancer.  It was located under the reconstruction on top of the chest wall.  The tumor was removed and so started the following events.

While recovering from the surgery and starting her first round of radiation therapy, her hernia mesh again failed only this time it was life threatening with a horribly painful obstructed bowl.  She was rushed from  Fond du Lac Agnesian ER to Froedtert medical center in Milwaukee for surgery.  


She was forced to endure a nightmare of stomach and intestinal pumping to prepare for surgery.  The surgery was successful to remove the obstructed bowl and implant another mesh.  Again the failed mesh was left, which she now has three.  She spent a week in the hospital recovering.  They were told if this mesh fails again the next surgery will be very challenging with uncertain outcomes.  It was frightening to hear the possibilities.The most amazing, supportive and loving people work here!

Preparing for another round of radiation.  Again, she’s smiling.  These are the beautiful people who go out of there way to make a very difficult moment easier.

When Sharon was released from the hospital she bravely and immediately restarted her radiation treatments.  She was told, because she missed that week while in Milwaukee, several additional treatments need to added to her regiment.

Sharon has dedicated her life for over 30 years as a special needs teacher for school age and preschool children.  She is one of the most loving and gifted professionals you will ever meet.  She has opened her heart to the hurting, the damaged and the lost children, that society did not want to deal with.  She embraced these children when others refused, to give them a sense of  acceptance, love and security.  She is the unrecognized gift to them, their family and society.  Even now, as she battles all the physical and emotional challenges in her life, she still considers how to help children over come their challenges.  
 
The things she did for her little students!  There’s that smile again!

Enjoying a relaxing 4th of July a couple weeks after her last chemo treatment in 2015.  Battling through all the side effects, loss of her breasts and her hair.....and she’s 

 She was terminated from her position in 2011 while going through chemotherapy because she could not perform her roll as a teacher and the school district she worked for stated they did not offer FMLA to their staff.  She was devastated and it caused severe financial hardship.  Because of her health struggle, She was not able to secure work for well over two years.

Sharon’s badge of honor.  What a warrior!

The out of pocket costs from the 10+ surgeries since 2011 has added up significantly.  She is presently employed as a preschool teacher and is on FMLA but they only pay 60% of her wages before tax and she has to carry the large financial burden of her portion of the insurance premiums because her employer does not offer a program to help with this burden.

The surgery and treatments at Froedtert hospital is out of network, which has generated extremely significant out of pocket costs.  It is unclear at this time when or if Sharon will return to work due to her cancer treatments and slow surgical recovery and permanent physical damage that all these surgeries and treatments have caused.

 She will be off work beyond the maximum time allotted for disability income and at that time she will no longer have any income and will not be able to pay her portion of the health insurance premiums.  They are still recovering from the out of pocket costs from the past several surgeries, treatments and her husband’s two heart attacks in 2017. It’s estimated after this is done it will bring the total liability to $60’000.00 or more.  We know presently it’s a total of $25,000.00 and could go higher.  We are waiting for the final statement from Froedtert hospital and insurance premium quotes.  

She refuses to allow pictures of her pain., except one-“The battle of the chemo patient”.  So every picture she shows a smile.  We’re hoping her harrowing  journey will touch the hearts of those who can help to reduce their burden and give her some resemblance of a normal life while recovering and for her future challenges.  

This is isn’t a story of self pity or disparities, it’s a story of finding inner strength, faith and determination to over come the odds of life.  Sharon is a warrior for all those who have or are still in the fight of overcoming the restraints of illness.  Even though she was recently diagnosed with basal skin cancer, She still exemplifies her belief....”giving up is no option”.   

They’ve started selling everything that can be sold.  It’s a very slow and painful process.  Her husband has sold most of his tools, (men understand that loss), with more to go and now they are looking to sell her car.

They are also now looking to moving into a lesser expensive 55 and older adult housing complex, to minimize living costs.  As painful as it is to lose even more, they will do whatever is nessessary to overcome this situation. 


This weblink was built by the loving staff and people of Essential Rock Church in Fond du lac, WI.   We are truly blessed and grateful for their genuine love and dedication to expressing the love of Jesus through their support.https://essentialrockchurch.com/home 

A humble thank you for taking the time to read her story and any help you might provide.  God bless you all.