Liz’s Cancer Treatment

Hi, my name is Liz Pankewicz, and I have been a teacher in the Brick Township School District for ten years. Less than two months ago, I was given the devastating diagnosis of a Grade 3 malignant astrocytoma - a form of aggressive brain cancer that currently has no cure.

My husband works for Brick Township too, and we both grew up in Brick, have lived in Brick most of our lives, and are still living in Ocean County. We are lifelong active community members. We are hoping our community can now help us, as we’re not sure how to proceed with our current circumstances.

I have used my personal sick days as of February 7. Come March, 8th, 2023 I will be out of the 20 sick bank days granted to me by my union. Having exhausted all my options, I will go on unpaid FMLA so I will lose my income and will have to pay out of pocket to keep my insurance coverage for my so that I may continue to receive treatment.

On the evening of Dec. 30th, my husband woke in the middle of the night to find me having a seizure. As a result, I went to the ER, where the doctors treating me discovered a large brain tumor in my right hemisphere. In the following weeks, I made an appointment at UPenn for an awake craniotomy, a seven hour procedure that left me unable to speak or read for two weeks. I have since worked with medical professionals to slowly regain my communication abilities, though there are still many other side effects of this invasive surgery that I face daily.

Because it is grade 3, further aggressive treatment needs to be done. So in one week, I will be a given a total of 33 rounds of proton radiation, five days a week. Shortly after that we will start chemotherapy for a year. We are hopeful, that this treatment can at least delay when the tumor comes back, or become a higher grade.

I have had to swallow my pride, because I don’t want my young family to go into financial ruin. I am asking for my community to help cover me through my recovery from surgery & radiation, loss of salary, my husband’s reduction in salary through NJFLA, daycare for my son who is four, travel expenses, and bills. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.