No One Fights Alone!

Marylou Creal is our high school Science Teacher at Meadowbrook Academy (Stokes County School System) in King, North Carolina. (Meadowbrook Academy is a very small non-traditional school, with a small faculty/staff who are a true family in every sense of the word.) At the very beginning of last school year (2016/2017), Mrs. Creal was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Throughout the school year, she fought this vicious disease, enduring tests, processes and procedures that would have broken the spirit of many others who have walked and were walking her same path. She battled via external and internal radiation, as well as chemotherapy; some with extremely high dosages that have left permanent and irreversible damage to surrounding areas of her body. Throughout the entire ordeal, Marylou continued to put her students and coworkers first. She came in to her classes until time to leave for treatments. She wore medical masks to avoid seasonal germs, bacteria and viruses. She came in to work the very next day following many of her treatments, in spite of being weak and nauseous. Marylou asked only for our support and prayers. In late spring of 2017, after all treatments had been completed, Marylou’s last scan was clean and clear of any remaining cancer cells! However, her/our excitement and jubilation was short-lived, as barely into the beginning of this school year (2017/2018), she received news that the cancer had returned, and with a vengeance. Marylou’s oncologist recommended extremely radical surgery (removal of cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, kidneys and colon), with only 50% chance or eradicating the cancer completely. She cannot have any more radiation due to the extremely high dosages that she received last year. Her only other option is chemotherapy, which will only slow the progression of the cancer; it will not cure it. Her oncologist also informed her that the chemotherapy will only buy her, hopefully, some extended time with her family. During last school year, our students rallied around Mrs. Creal, and had in-school fundraisers to assist with buying medication and travel expenses to and from her treatments and doctor’s appointments. Mrs. Creal has made us aware that she is still paying for treatments that she received last school year (and will be for a long time). And now she is facing, quite literally, the fight of her life, and the continuing expenses of her treatments and appointments are continuing to climb. Please, we ask you to find it in your hearts to make a contribution to help this wonderful lady and her family through this trying time in their lives. Through her courage, faith and strength, Marylou exhibits the traits of a warrior; let’s help her win this battle! Thank you!