Help Marla Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Hi I'm starting this fundraiser to help with expenses related to my treatment for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma including medical expenses, transportation to chemotherapy/medical appointments, medical expenses and general daily living expenses. Since being diagnosed in May and starting chemotherapy I have had no income and Social Security Disability will not begin until mid-November due to the 5 month waiting period and I am in a dire financial situation unable to pay for transportation to chemo next week and am in need of immediate help.

As some of you know I have undergone 6 endoscopic surgeries for Bile Duct stent placements and revisions with my 7th scheduled for October. This began in August 2022 with no diagnosis or cause determined during my care at Princeton. In January of this year the bottom dropped out on me and I was still in liver failure without answers so I sought out an advanced surgeon at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick. In April they found a lesion on my pancreas and less than 6 weeks later I was admitted to Robert Wood Johnson for 10 days at which time they diagnosed me with Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and the tumor was already inoperable. Initially from imaging it appeared as though the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes and diaphragm. Instantly my life came to a screeching halt. I thought everything was over. It was such a brutal timed I made the decision to tell as few people as possible. I've always been a glass is "fully full" person and make a point to put positivity out there every day. Telling a few people that needed to know was so painful to watch. It was devastating to them and I don't enjoy being a spreader of doom and gloom. It was heartbreaking.

With that being said immediately after diagnosis I was sent for a PET Scan which showed the cancer was local to the pancreas and did not spread. I promised my friends that if I had a chance to survive that I would fight and my oncology team said that they were going to throw everything they could at me to try and save my life. Within 1 week I had a chemo port surgically placed in my chest and began my first round of chemotherapy. The treatment plan is 6 months of 4 chemo drugs and a CAT scan after every 4 treatments. So far I've completed 6 rounds and after the 4th received good news that I went from a 10-15% chance of being a surgical candidate for a Whipple surgery to 50%. Now they want to add radiation to my last 4 rounds to see if I can get to the point of being operable and possibly adding a few years to my life. That is such great news and I'm cautiously optimistic as I have a long way to go still. It carries me through the really bad days when I don't know how I can continue and it reminds me of what I'm fighting for.

When you hear that someone is battling cancer that's exactly what it is - a battle, a constant fight to beat that which is killing you. There are some really good days, really bad days and most days are a struggle to manage the symptoms, side effects, pain and exhaustion. Everyday I make a point of making my life as meaningful as possible. If you haven't heard from me please know I'm doing the best I can to get through each day right now.

I've been fiercely independent my entire life and I just can't do this alone anymore- not emotionally or financially. I'm single and don't have any family close and if it weren't for the love and support of my friends and my care team I don't know how I would get through this. This has been a big lesson in asking for help and it's beyond humbling. My goal is to get through the endoscopies every 2 months, chemotherapy, radiation and surgery if I qualify.

I realize that everyone has their own obligations and any help is beyond appreciated as every dollar counts right now. I'm doing this only because I'm out of options and in desperate need. Even if you cannot donate I'll take all of the love and good vibes for healing you can send my way!!!

Love,

Marla