Help Christie Fight Colon Cancer

My name is Shauna Morrison. I grew up with Christie and her sisters in the north end of Regina, Saskatchewan. The Schuler house was a second home for me growing up. Although Christie was 3 years ahead of me in school, she was a fixture of my hangouts at the Schuler house. Once she got her driver's license, she gave us rides, and kept us under her wing when we got to high school. After Christie finished high school at Thom Collegiate in 1997, she went out into the world as a young adult. Our paths crossed again in 2013 when we both worked for the construction management team building the K+S Potash Mine near Bethune, SK.

On December 23, 2024, after waiting 9 months for a colonoscopy, Christie found out she has colon cancer. Imagine receiving this news right before Christmas! Christie is a proud and devoted single-mother of 4 children, 3 of whom are still at home. Despite the devastating news, Christie was able to focus on her children and provide them with a wonderful holiday season.

On January 7, 2025, Christie met with the surgeon and learned more about her diagnosis and the severity of her illness. Christie has been diagnosed with Invasive Colonic Adenocarcinoma (colon cancer) with Angiolymphatic Invasion (cancer cells present in lymph vessels and cells). Presence of lymphatic invasion in a biopsy is never good news as it increases the risk that cancer has spread out of the colon via the lymphatic system. Additionally, a secondary type of cancer cells were found in the rectum. A CT scan on December 30, 2024, also identified 2 lesions in the right lobe of Christie's liver. These may indicate Colorectal Liver Metastasis (Stage IV Colon Cancer).

Christie is scheduled for a Laparoscopic Sigmoid Resection, a surgical procedure which will remove part of her colon, on February 6 2025, at the Pasqua Hospital. During this surgery, the medical team will also biopsy additional locations to determine if and how far the cancer has spread. Only when the level of metastasis has been determined can the cancer specialists classify the stage of cancer Christie is up against. The in-hospital recovery time for this surgery is 5 days, while at-home recovery can last up to 6-weeks. Based on the diagnosis, it is very likely that Christie will have additional treatment interventions including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Christie will not know the details of this until after her surgery.

Christie is currently on medical leave from her workplace, Cargill Limited, and it is unknown when she will be able to return to work. Christie is only receiving a percentage of her employment wages while on medical leave. This is why Christie and her children need your support right now! While Christie navigates these serious medical challenges, she should not have to worry about losing her home and everything else she has worked so hard for. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Christie has been estranged from her family for a number of years. As such, she has very limited family supports for her and her children during this time. Right now, CHRISTIE NEEDS A VILLAGE to HELP HER FIGHT this battle!

On behalf of Christie and her children, I ask that you please donate if you are able to and please share this page as far and wide as possible.

I will be providing updates on this page as they become available, as well as additional fundraising opportunities.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for donating, if you are able, and for sharing this GoFundMe page.

Shauna