Strengthen From Within
Donation protected
March 2021
Hello Family & Friends:
It’s been about 3 months since my last update regarding my Mom’s physical health (which, I must clarify, stands separately from her spiritual well-being).
She undoubtedly comes up in every conversation I have with family, friends, and members of the community.
For the past 3 months, the answers I’ve given out freely have had a pretty uniform rhythm:
“She’s doing pretty well.”
“The doctors are watching her numbers closely and are seeing cancer-cell die off in her bloodwork.”
“She’s hanging in and hoping that the results of this upcoming PET scan will allow us to put some more space between each treatment/trip to Arizona.”
“She’s plugging along. We are just taking it day by day.”
Those answers “fit” until last Thursday. They were easy for me to share. They didn’t trigger a dejected emotional response within me. They felt honest and transparent, which is what our family owes to every single one of you after the unmatched outpour of love and support. Over the past couple weeks, my Mom started to experience severe pain and swelling in her sternum -- a pain that she knew intimately in the months leading up to starting treatment at EuroMed. This was concerning, and certainly felt like a trip down a not-so-distant-memory-lane. We were all starting to really settle into the idea of minimal pain and discomfort for our beloved matriarch.
Low and behold, her recent bloodwork reflected cancer cell growth. In full transparency, it fully sucked hearing that. My Dad, being the absolute unit of light and love that he is, assured us that this was normal for some patients (based on what the doctors were saying, that is). Needless to say, my Mom was advised to continue returning to Arizona for treatment every 11 days. Ugh.
The GoFundMe has raised an unfathomable amount of $35K – which paid for my Mom’s first two months of treatment. The additional three months of treatment were supported by direct, substantial donations from our extended family, and one of my Mom’s closest friends. We never imagined we would be on the receiving end of such liberality.
At this point, I feel failed by our healthcare system. I feel failed by our “incredible” insurance. I feel resentment based on the fact that my parents, who are two particularly hardworking and selfless people, are suffering from this exhausting financial stress – all in an effort to give my Mom the quality of life she deserves. It absolutely breaks my heart that, on multiple occasions, my Mother has talked about stopping treatment because she can’t afford it.
I know she feels so beyond indebted from the donations thus far, and that she doesn’t want me to ask for any additional help. As much as I respect her wishes on this journey, her giving up treatment based on the money does not sit right with me. This treatment WORKS for her body. The financial burden of paying for her entire treatment out of pocket is perpetuating the stress that we so desperately need to squash in order for her to HEAL. Peace is a breeding ground for healing. My Mom will have another PET scan the first week of April, at which point she plans to make a decision regarding what’s next for her physical body.
I know so many of you have given so much, but I am asking if you can give a little bit more.
If you are able to donate, please consider doing so.
If you are comfortable sharing, please share and include a few words in your post about the value and love that my Mother has added to your life.
Please keep our treasured Mom/wife in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to go within, listen for answers, and show up wherever she is needed in the service of others.
Love to you all,
Sarah
November 2020
Good Morning, Everyone:
After having my parents over to our cottage in Walpole for Thanksgiving yesterday, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the abundance of gratitude that we shared when going roundtable before our AMAZING vegetarian meal.
Although my Mom's journey has been very tiring, painful, and terrifying for us, it has also been uplifting, enlightening and eye-opening.
The outpour of love, generosity and support from our community (and beyond) has helped us heal in profound ways. While there are so many different love languages that have been expressed on this journey, we want you to know that we see you, we hear you, we feel you so deeply, and we appreciate you infinitely.
We cannot thank you enough for standing with us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.
A little update on Mom:
On November 5th, Mom sat down with her team of doctors to review the bloodwork that wrapped up her first 4 weeks of intensive treatment. Despite struggling with white blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels (and having to put raw liver in her smoothies... yikes), they were extremely pleased with her markers. They saw a great deal of cancer-cell death in her bloodwork (woohoo!!).
They suggested that she stay for another 4 weeks of intensive treatment, as they wanted to stay the course based on the success they were seeing; however, Mom already had her flight home booked and we knew that her coming home for 11 days was going to be instrumental in her healing (poodle cuddles were in high-demand).
I can't tell you how good it felt to hug my Mom at the airport after 6 weeks of being apart - 6 weeks of knowing she was being poked, prodded and physically/mentally exhausted on the other side of the country.
Sadly, before treatment, seeing my Mom in discomfort was becoming a new, heartbreaking reality. Upon her return, I couldn't believe the shift. I could actually give her a big, bear hug without causing her pain - and oh boy, the sass was back (though it never really left, believe it or not).
Mom has already been back out to AZ once for additional treatment (my Dad beside her). She has been home for 11 days and will head back out to Arizona tomorrow for another round.
We know the road is long (and financially unforgiving), but we will continue to climb this mountain as a family, and practice TRUST. You have all provided so much power and love and given us unwavering resilience.
Mom continues to amaze us with her connection with spirit, and has received a great deal of clarity from the universe regarding her new "marching orders" in terms of inspiring the world in health, wellness and consciousness (see Sermon with Dumont for more on that).
We are still asking for help. Chapter 1 is done, and we aren't clear on how many pages are in this book.
Please continue to hold us in your thoughts, use your platforms to share our efforts, and donate if you are able.
We love you all beyond words.
The Dumonts
October 2020
As many of you know, my Mom, Lisa Dumont - a lifeline, inspiration, confidante and coach of so many- is on an arduous journey with cancer.
In 2010, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, resulting in a full hysterectomy. At this time, she opted out of treatment, but rather went inward, focusing on her spirituality.
In June of 2019, she was diagnosed with a rare upper urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer). In September, she elected to have her left kidney and ureter removed. Unfortunately, and partially because of the aftermath that’s commonly associated with removing cancer-ridden organs, her CT scan results in July of 2020 were disheartening. The cancer went metastatic and was becoming increasingly aggressive.
After 9 years between the two diagnostics, her values on chemotherapy had not really changed. “Going to war” with her body was still less than ideal.
The past few months have been beyond difficult for her and our entire family. As the cancer spread rapidly, she began to experience a great deal of frustrating changes in her physical abilities. This made it nearly impossible for her to continue training clients at the gym. On some days, even peeling herself out of bed proved to be a test. For the first time in my life, I felt like my Mom couldn’t kick my ass – and I didn’t like it!
It goes without saying that when my Mom is training her Fit Family, she shines. It’s her true love, her dying passion, and her “zone of genius.” Stepping out of coaching has hurt her tremendously.
Her entire life has revolved around supporting others through the health of mind, body and spirit. My Mom’s vision of “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” is unmatched. I know I am not alone in feeling like she is one-of-a-kind. She’s inspiring beyond belief, supportive beyond measure, spunky as hell and most of all, selfless. She is truly a light in every room.
During the past few months, we received a divine gift from the universe. My Mother found EuroMed Foundation in Phoenix, AZ – a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to pursuing an integrative cancer treatment philosophy that emphasizes strengthening the immune system. Words cannot describe how happy we were, friends and family alike, that she found an avenue of treatment that resonated with her.
She started week 2 of her treatment with EuroMed on Monday, and although they are utilizing low-dose chemotherapy in combination with SO many other incredible approaches, the experience is considered “alternative.” That being said, insurance will not cover it.
Right now, the financial factor is weighing heavy on our family. We could never put a price on my Mother’s health, but the cost of this treatment is overwhelming. It is beyond challenging to ask for help, but I need my Mother to have a chance at health – something that she has given all of us, selflessly and with love, for so long.
If you are able to donate, we would be eternally grateful.
If you aren’t able to donate, as I know this is a difficult time for many, please consider sharing our efforts.
If you’re not comfortable sharing, please keep my Mother in your thoughts and in your heart.
I am absolutely blown away by the number of lives that this woman has touched, and all that she has done in this community.
It would mean the world to us for her to understand the impact that she has had on this planet. She needs our love more than ever. She’s dreaming of getting back on her “red carpet” in the gym and continuing to change lives one member, one bootcamp, one mindset at a time.
With Open Hearts,
The Dumonts
Hello Family & Friends:
It’s been about 3 months since my last update regarding my Mom’s physical health (which, I must clarify, stands separately from her spiritual well-being).
She undoubtedly comes up in every conversation I have with family, friends, and members of the community.
For the past 3 months, the answers I’ve given out freely have had a pretty uniform rhythm:
“She’s doing pretty well.”
“The doctors are watching her numbers closely and are seeing cancer-cell die off in her bloodwork.”
“She’s hanging in and hoping that the results of this upcoming PET scan will allow us to put some more space between each treatment/trip to Arizona.”
“She’s plugging along. We are just taking it day by day.”
Those answers “fit” until last Thursday. They were easy for me to share. They didn’t trigger a dejected emotional response within me. They felt honest and transparent, which is what our family owes to every single one of you after the unmatched outpour of love and support. Over the past couple weeks, my Mom started to experience severe pain and swelling in her sternum -- a pain that she knew intimately in the months leading up to starting treatment at EuroMed. This was concerning, and certainly felt like a trip down a not-so-distant-memory-lane. We were all starting to really settle into the idea of minimal pain and discomfort for our beloved matriarch.
Low and behold, her recent bloodwork reflected cancer cell growth. In full transparency, it fully sucked hearing that. My Dad, being the absolute unit of light and love that he is, assured us that this was normal for some patients (based on what the doctors were saying, that is). Needless to say, my Mom was advised to continue returning to Arizona for treatment every 11 days. Ugh.
The GoFundMe has raised an unfathomable amount of $35K – which paid for my Mom’s first two months of treatment. The additional three months of treatment were supported by direct, substantial donations from our extended family, and one of my Mom’s closest friends. We never imagined we would be on the receiving end of such liberality.
At this point, I feel failed by our healthcare system. I feel failed by our “incredible” insurance. I feel resentment based on the fact that my parents, who are two particularly hardworking and selfless people, are suffering from this exhausting financial stress – all in an effort to give my Mom the quality of life she deserves. It absolutely breaks my heart that, on multiple occasions, my Mother has talked about stopping treatment because she can’t afford it.
I know she feels so beyond indebted from the donations thus far, and that she doesn’t want me to ask for any additional help. As much as I respect her wishes on this journey, her giving up treatment based on the money does not sit right with me. This treatment WORKS for her body. The financial burden of paying for her entire treatment out of pocket is perpetuating the stress that we so desperately need to squash in order for her to HEAL. Peace is a breeding ground for healing. My Mom will have another PET scan the first week of April, at which point she plans to make a decision regarding what’s next for her physical body.
I know so many of you have given so much, but I am asking if you can give a little bit more.
If you are able to donate, please consider doing so.
If you are comfortable sharing, please share and include a few words in your post about the value and love that my Mother has added to your life.
Please keep our treasured Mom/wife in your thoughts and prayers as she continues to go within, listen for answers, and show up wherever she is needed in the service of others.
Love to you all,
Sarah
November 2020
Good Morning, Everyone:
After having my parents over to our cottage in Walpole for Thanksgiving yesterday, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on the abundance of gratitude that we shared when going roundtable before our AMAZING vegetarian meal.
Although my Mom's journey has been very tiring, painful, and terrifying for us, it has also been uplifting, enlightening and eye-opening.
The outpour of love, generosity and support from our community (and beyond) has helped us heal in profound ways. While there are so many different love languages that have been expressed on this journey, we want you to know that we see you, we hear you, we feel you so deeply, and we appreciate you infinitely.
We cannot thank you enough for standing with us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.
A little update on Mom:
On November 5th, Mom sat down with her team of doctors to review the bloodwork that wrapped up her first 4 weeks of intensive treatment. Despite struggling with white blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels (and having to put raw liver in her smoothies... yikes), they were extremely pleased with her markers. They saw a great deal of cancer-cell death in her bloodwork (woohoo!!).
They suggested that she stay for another 4 weeks of intensive treatment, as they wanted to stay the course based on the success they were seeing; however, Mom already had her flight home booked and we knew that her coming home for 11 days was going to be instrumental in her healing (poodle cuddles were in high-demand).
I can't tell you how good it felt to hug my Mom at the airport after 6 weeks of being apart - 6 weeks of knowing she was being poked, prodded and physically/mentally exhausted on the other side of the country.
Sadly, before treatment, seeing my Mom in discomfort was becoming a new, heartbreaking reality. Upon her return, I couldn't believe the shift. I could actually give her a big, bear hug without causing her pain - and oh boy, the sass was back (though it never really left, believe it or not).
Mom has already been back out to AZ once for additional treatment (my Dad beside her). She has been home for 11 days and will head back out to Arizona tomorrow for another round.
We know the road is long (and financially unforgiving), but we will continue to climb this mountain as a family, and practice TRUST. You have all provided so much power and love and given us unwavering resilience.
Mom continues to amaze us with her connection with spirit, and has received a great deal of clarity from the universe regarding her new "marching orders" in terms of inspiring the world in health, wellness and consciousness (see Sermon with Dumont for more on that).
We are still asking for help. Chapter 1 is done, and we aren't clear on how many pages are in this book.
Please continue to hold us in your thoughts, use your platforms to share our efforts, and donate if you are able.
We love you all beyond words.
The Dumonts
October 2020
As many of you know, my Mom, Lisa Dumont - a lifeline, inspiration, confidante and coach of so many- is on an arduous journey with cancer.
In 2010, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, resulting in a full hysterectomy. At this time, she opted out of treatment, but rather went inward, focusing on her spirituality.
In June of 2019, she was diagnosed with a rare upper urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer). In September, she elected to have her left kidney and ureter removed. Unfortunately, and partially because of the aftermath that’s commonly associated with removing cancer-ridden organs, her CT scan results in July of 2020 were disheartening. The cancer went metastatic and was becoming increasingly aggressive.
After 9 years between the two diagnostics, her values on chemotherapy had not really changed. “Going to war” with her body was still less than ideal.
The past few months have been beyond difficult for her and our entire family. As the cancer spread rapidly, she began to experience a great deal of frustrating changes in her physical abilities. This made it nearly impossible for her to continue training clients at the gym. On some days, even peeling herself out of bed proved to be a test. For the first time in my life, I felt like my Mom couldn’t kick my ass – and I didn’t like it!
It goes without saying that when my Mom is training her Fit Family, she shines. It’s her true love, her dying passion, and her “zone of genius.” Stepping out of coaching has hurt her tremendously.
Her entire life has revolved around supporting others through the health of mind, body and spirit. My Mom’s vision of “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” is unmatched. I know I am not alone in feeling like she is one-of-a-kind. She’s inspiring beyond belief, supportive beyond measure, spunky as hell and most of all, selfless. She is truly a light in every room.
During the past few months, we received a divine gift from the universe. My Mother found EuroMed Foundation in Phoenix, AZ – a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to pursuing an integrative cancer treatment philosophy that emphasizes strengthening the immune system. Words cannot describe how happy we were, friends and family alike, that she found an avenue of treatment that resonated with her.
She started week 2 of her treatment with EuroMed on Monday, and although they are utilizing low-dose chemotherapy in combination with SO many other incredible approaches, the experience is considered “alternative.” That being said, insurance will not cover it.
Right now, the financial factor is weighing heavy on our family. We could never put a price on my Mother’s health, but the cost of this treatment is overwhelming. It is beyond challenging to ask for help, but I need my Mother to have a chance at health – something that she has given all of us, selflessly and with love, for so long.
If you are able to donate, we would be eternally grateful.
If you aren’t able to donate, as I know this is a difficult time for many, please consider sharing our efforts.
If you’re not comfortable sharing, please keep my Mother in your thoughts and in your heart.
I am absolutely blown away by the number of lives that this woman has touched, and all that she has done in this community.
It would mean the world to us for her to understand the impact that she has had on this planet. She needs our love more than ever. She’s dreaming of getting back on her “red carpet” in the gym and continuing to change lives one member, one bootcamp, one mindset at a time.
With Open Hearts,
The Dumonts
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Dumont
Organizer
Bellows Falls, VT
Lisa Dumont
Beneficiary
