Help Alisa Heal Stage III, Colorectal Cancer

Help Alisa Heal Stage III, Colorectal Cancer

Hello, my name is Shannon von Burns, and I reach out today to share the heartbreaking situation of my dear sweet friend, Dr. Alisa Boutin, aka "squeak". Those of you that know her and me as the dynamic duo yoga student and teacher. She has always been the north star of my heart in all my yoga, healing, meditation, and teacher training classes, as well as my ally in this grand adventure called life.

Consequently, I greatly appreciate your help to raise awareness and donations to support both her survival and complete healing from Stage III Colorectal Cancer.

Since her diagnosis last November, I have watched her do everything she possibly can to contribute to her healing journey. As one of the most loving, devoted, kind, selfless, and wonderful people I know she is a solid as a rock. She never complains and perseveres regardless of immense pain, and suffering which is truly hard to watch sometimes. She is a light to all of us and the greatest source of our joy. I have seen her body shrink into a tiny warrior goddess right in front of my eyes, and she's not out of the woods yet.

Alisa has spent time most of her time supporting others through service either at yoga, meditation, The Great Spirit Path, or her incredible career as a biologist researching Thyroid Diseases and Diabetes. Her relationships both with God and Humanity, make her contributions immeasurable and extraordinary.

Alisa, never asks for anything from anyone, instead, she asks what can she do, give, help, buy, or donate for anyone lucky enough to cross her path. She spends every day being of use to science, biology, medicine, humanity, family, friendships, and our community. We are all blessed because of her existence in our lives.

Diagnosis:

Alisa was suffering tremendous heartbreak due to a painful divorce, and she just wasn't feeling well. Confused about her well-being she went to many doctors, and they all said she was "fine", and wrote it off as hormones or depression. This went on for nearly a year until a dear friend of ours, an experienced gastroenterologist saw her in his office and diagnosed her with Stage III Colorectal Cancer.

Where she is in the process:

Alisa has been healing from this disease for about seven grueling months. She has completed the radiation series and has one more month of Chemotherapy. Ideally, if she can recover from the brutal and cumulative side effects, she will need to have surgical removal of the tumor in her colon. That will need to happen as soon as possible, after the final chemotherapy.

To be honest, her divorce left her financially struggling, and now, she has to financially overcome all of this. It is so unreasonable and impossible for her to care for herself let alone pay for the extraordinary costs. Watching her battle this illness without the loving arms of her mother has been heartbreaking all by itself. Alisa is originally from Russia, and due to the war with Ukraine, the USA has limited visitation from Russia. Therefore, we have been doing all we can to be an extension of her beautiful mother, and love her as best we can in her absence.

I often wonder how much one person can take, and still manage to be so loving and positive. I marvel at her process and her unshakable faith.

Next steps, Surgery:

The toxicity from the combined radiation, and chemo, has been adverse and her recovery each time has been longer to complete than we had originally hoped. Once her blood counts recover from toxicity, and she is stable enough to survive, she will undergo colon cancer tumor removal.

Afterward, she will have to wear a colostomy bag for approximately three to four months before the reversal surgery followed by more chemotherapy.

That timeline is at least another four to eight months. Upon full healing and completion of that phase then, they will remove the colostomy bag, and s long as all goes well, she can finally say she HEALED CANCER WITH YOUR AND GOD'S HELP!

Current and Future Costs:

Alisa's diagnosis puts her in a "catastrophic" deductible instead of a standard deductible. Additionally, the treatment has spanned both 2022 and 2023, the out-of-pocket costs are unbearable. Her co-pay alone is thousands of dollars, and she could barely handle that. However, now the most challenging part is that other modalities that aren't covered by insurance.

As a result, she faces an ever-growing outrageous cost for uncovered deductibles, medical bills, and any supportive therapies do deal with excruciating side effects that are all one hundred percent out of pocket (acupuncture, therapy, infrared sauna, severe dehydration relief, hyperbaric chamber, and expensive supplements. These are scientifically proven to help counteract the excruciating side effects of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

After the surgery, there is a chance she will need continued therapies again that will not be covered. Plus, she will need round-the-clock care, and support at home while she heals from her surgery.

Your generous donations will help cover some of the following expenses:

Alisa's cancer treatment has "catastrophic deductibles", including chemotherapy, previous radiation, and tumor removal surgery.

Medical expenses

Loss of income

Travel expenses to hospitals and treatment centers: Weekly total 80.00

Medication copays: range between 200 and 2000.00 depending on insurance coverage.

Supplements: Approximately 75.00 per week

(Alternative medicine treatments to alleviate chemotherapy side effects.)

Acupuncture: 70.00 per week

Infrared Healing: 30.00 per session per week

Hyperbaric chamber: total 10 sessions 2 per week at 150.00 total 1500.00

Hydration therapies: 100.00 per week

Ongoing medical care and therapies to recover during and after her surgery.

Friends take turns traveling to care for me once per month to cover some of their expenses. Auto, food, and any other expenses they incur from being away from their homes. these costs are

Conculsion

The best support you can offer Alisa is by sharing her story, sending her loving prayers, and holding her complete healing in your vision. She softly asks that we refer to her cancer journey as one of healing, recovery, understanding, growing, and faith. She gently maintains she is not fighting cancer, rather she is healing with it.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly impact this difficult time, and greatly support Alisa. We are eternally grateful for the love, support, and kindness you've shown her, and if you have any questions feel free to email me anytime.

Finally, being a biologist and incredible human, Dr. Alisa Boutin has been putting herself through a clinical trial of fasting in chemotherapy, diagnostics, and research, so that her healing could potentially help others.

With heartfelt thanks,

Shannon von Burns