Social Worker of the Year has Rare Cancer
Donation protected
This is Glenda Berger. Glenda is my mentor and friend, and has been a leader of integrity in the field of social work for many years. When Glenda was awarded the NASW Social Worker of the Year Award for Northern California in 2019, the recognition came as no surprise to those of us who have been supervised by her. She is known throughout the field for her kindness, respect and humility.
Glenda is currently in the fight of her life. She went in for a simple ablation treatment for a heart condition in May of this year, and the doctors made a terrifying discovery. Glenda has a very rare and very aggressive form of cancer. She has what began as Cardiac Intimal sarcoma that started in the lining of her heart. The cancer has aggressively spread to her pulmonary veins, her hip, her spine and her brain.
This aggressive cancer requires immediate and aggressive treatment. Glenda’s doctor believes a CyberKnife Radiosurgery to the spine would be the most effective at pinpointing the cancer, and less harmful than the standard radiation treatment. However, this recommended course of action has been declined by her health insurance.
This is a very, very aggressive cancer and therefore, the urgency of this request is paramount. The treatment she needs is 2 rounds of precise radiation at a cost of $150,000 per treatment. Glenda is also currently receiving chemotherapy, and is scheduled for the standard radiation treatment which will take place at Stanford.
Obviously, Glenda has been unable to work and has approached the end of leave time allotted to her. Dan, her devoted husband, has resigned from his employment as a professor at Simpson University to care for her. Glenda has 4 children and 5 grandchildren who adore her, as do many friends and colleagues.
Glenda and Dan are currently juggling treatments in Redding, Sacramento, and Stanford. The traveling has been very trying for them both. Their friends, family, and church are providing meals and helping out when they can, but the time has come to ask for additional help from our community.
I have initiated this campaign, with Glenda and her family’s blessing, to provide funds to help with treatment, and to also alleviate the financial strain of travel and meals. Glenda has given so much to our community, and we would love for her to know she is loved and cared for by all of us in the days to come.
Glenda is currently in the fight of her life. She went in for a simple ablation treatment for a heart condition in May of this year, and the doctors made a terrifying discovery. Glenda has a very rare and very aggressive form of cancer. She has what began as Cardiac Intimal sarcoma that started in the lining of her heart. The cancer has aggressively spread to her pulmonary veins, her hip, her spine and her brain.
This aggressive cancer requires immediate and aggressive treatment. Glenda’s doctor believes a CyberKnife Radiosurgery to the spine would be the most effective at pinpointing the cancer, and less harmful than the standard radiation treatment. However, this recommended course of action has been declined by her health insurance.
This is a very, very aggressive cancer and therefore, the urgency of this request is paramount. The treatment she needs is 2 rounds of precise radiation at a cost of $150,000 per treatment. Glenda is also currently receiving chemotherapy, and is scheduled for the standard radiation treatment which will take place at Stanford.
Obviously, Glenda has been unable to work and has approached the end of leave time allotted to her. Dan, her devoted husband, has resigned from his employment as a professor at Simpson University to care for her. Glenda has 4 children and 5 grandchildren who adore her, as do many friends and colleagues.
Glenda and Dan are currently juggling treatments in Redding, Sacramento, and Stanford. The traveling has been very trying for them both. Their friends, family, and church are providing meals and helping out when they can, but the time has come to ask for additional help from our community.
I have initiated this campaign, with Glenda and her family’s blessing, to provide funds to help with treatment, and to also alleviate the financial strain of travel and meals. Glenda has given so much to our community, and we would love for her to know she is loved and cared for by all of us in the days to come.
Fundraising team (2)
Kim Kay
Organizer
Redding, CA
Daniel Berger
Beneficiary
Faith Morse
Team member
