Strong for Sarah Zwingman!

Sarah’s battle began in 2017 when she began experiencing periodic debilitating health symptoms and was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).  During the next several months she was hospitalized more than 10 times with infections in the bile ducts that caused severe pain and was treated with antibiotics.  With another follow up procedure in February 2018, doctors found abnormal results on tissue biopsies.  After further testing, it was discovered that the PSC liver disease had caused bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma ).  Although bile duct cancer is rare, it is more common with people with PSC.  Sarah's medical team at Kaiser Santa Clara reached out to the Mayo Clinic since her case of both PSC and cholangiocarcinoma is quite complex.  To put this cancer into perspective, there are only 1–2 cases per 100,000 people!

She is now beginning treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating many people with cholangiocarcinoma.  The treatment will require that Sarah undergo radiation, chemotherapy, and a full liver transplant.

Through this process she has had her ups and downs but has remained optimistic and is staying positive. The reason Sarah has been able to press on is the incredible support she has from so many, along with the most amazing family and close friends.

The Zwingman family could use your support as Sarah undergoes her treatment in Rochester that will last several weeks for the cancer treatment and several months for the transplant.  Sarah and Tom have two young children, Emma (7) and Alex (4). We know that they will have a lot of extra expenses for child care, travel to/from Minnesota, loss of job income, medical bills not covered by insurance, meals, and so many other items in the weeks and months ahead and they are reaching out for help.  Sarah will be having to travel back and forth every few months pre and post transplant and some of these visits might require a private charter plane to get Sarah from CA to MN quickly.  One immediate need they have is to hire a nanny so that Tom can keep working in between traveling to Minnesota while Sarah is in treatment. Any extra funds would be donated to charity.

More than ever, Sarah, Tom, and family need our prayers, love, support, positive vibes & faith. Updates will be posted on her facebook page (www.facebook.com/sarah.zwingman) and Caring Bridge  website as she learns more throughout this process.  If anyone can win this fight, it’s Sarah!

Thank you for your love and support.