Help Keri Sutherland in her Battle for Life

It is with complete and utter sadness that I write this plea on behalf of Keri, her family, friends and colleagues. Keri has rectal cancer, which has metastasized to her brain, and she is fighting hard for any chance of survival.

She will do what it takes to keep fighting to stay alive for her two children, Jake 17, Paige 11, and her husband, Chad. Keri and her family have been given some devastating news, and her wish is that her children get to follow their dreams and have the opportunity of a good education. We want to set aside funds for her continued treatment, hoping for a miracle that an optional treatment plan can be found, for her children's education, and to give her some comfort and peace of mind.

Keri has endured the wrath of cancer with grace and determination and for the most part, always looking to the positive side. However, she understands that her life will be coming to an end soon and that now more than ever, she needs support from her extended family, friends, COPE sisters and Boilermaker family. We would like to provide funds to set aside for her comfort and her children’s education. We are hoping to raise $25,000 to help with this endeavor.

Keri’s cancer journey. . .

In November 2016, Keri was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. She was only 42 years old. She completed five weeks of radiation and chemotherapy and, all the while, remaining determined to beat this. Keri was strong, young, and otherwise healthy and her odds were good. However, come February 2017, she underwent a surgical resection of her colon, which included an ileostomy bag followed by more chemo treatments. Seven months later, Keri was healthy enough, so the bag was reversed. This was great news, and all scans were clear. She was considered cancer-free!

After her MRI in July 2020, it was discovered that Keri had another tumour. This was due to the rectal cancer, which had metastasized to her left lung. Once again, and ever strong, Keri endured another surgery with a lobectomy and more rounds of chemo. She began to feel better, she continued to work, and life went forward for her and her family. We were all so happy for her. “Small victories. . .” she would say.

However, it was not to last. In August of 2021, Keri started to have random headaches. By October, she had some balance issues and had suffered a fall. Her headaches had gotten worse, and on the same day as her MRI on October 30th, she was immediately admitted to the cancer ward. She was informed by the neurologists that she had four tumours in her brain and that one of the four was inoperable. She was told there was nothing they could do for that tumour. Keri was devastated but didn’t give up. She pleaded with her oncologists to find a surgeon willing to operate. It was a frightening time, waiting to hear whether there was a brain surgeon willing to risk it. Thank goodness, the phone call came. She would be able to have the surgery. Keri underwent invasive brain surgery (craniotomy). They removed as much of the 4cm tumour as they could and followed that up with five more rounds of radiation.

Unfortunately, her most recent MRI has revealed a small cluster of approximately seven nodules located in the same region where they removed the tumour. The cancer is growing rapidly. Keri will now have to face more radiation to help shrink the mass in her brain, and we will continue to seek medical help from all avenues of treatment.

If you know Keri, you know her to be a fighter, and she will battle this to the very end. However, with the impending news that there is nothing more they can do other than a limited number of radiation treatments, she needs all the support she can get to fight for the possibility of lengthening the time she has left.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about Keri. We are all so grateful for any help you may be able to give.

Thoughts are with Keri, Chad, Jake and Paige and the rest of their families.