Helping Sonya Conquer Cancer

Hi, my name is Lee Brockney and I am starting this fundraiser for my big sister, and only sibling, Sonya Kockler.

A little history on how we got here. In late 2021 Sonya began having issues with her left eye. she was having some blurry vision and experiencing "floaters" in her field of vision. She sought treatment and was referred to a Des Moines based retina specialist in early 2022. After several visits and no answers she was prescribed oral steroids and sent on her way despite the issues progressively getting worse.

In early February of 2023, Sonya began experiencing confusion and disorientation. EMS was called and while in route to the hospital she had a seizure. Because of the seizure an MRI was performed when she arrived at the hospital. That MRI showed a relatively large mass on the left side of her brain. the mass was then biopsied and a PET scan was scheduled. These tests confirmed that Sonya had developed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. This was a rare diagnosis for someone as young as Sonya. The good news was that the PET scan did not show that the cancer had spread beyond her central nervous system. Due to the rarity of her specific cancer case and the lack of expertise locally, Sonya was referred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where she is now under care.

Sonya was immediately scheduled to start high-dose chemotherapy and, as of today, has completed 2 rounds of chemo. While at Mayo, Sonya was referred to an eye specialist who reviewed her prior records with the retina specialist and performed an exam. It was determined that Sonya also had lymphoma in both eyes which had been the culprit behind her ongoing eye issues. Once this discovery was made Sonya was started on additional chemotherapy that is administered/injected directly into the eyes.

Due to the aggressive nature of her treatments, Sonya has spent, and will continue to spend, much of her time as an impatient at Mayo Clinic. Outside of the extreme high cost of treatment, Sonya has had to quit working, and her husband, a railroad employee, has had to take a large reduction in pay to be close to home so that he can help take care of their large family while Sonya is receiving treatments at Mayo. Sonya is a dedicated mother and wife to a blended family that includes 7 children, a dog, and 3 cats! I am hoping that this fundraiser can help ease her mind, if only a little, as the financial uncertainty of her situation is an added stress that she does not need.

All donations will be used to cover medical bills and living expenses while Sonya fights for her life.

Every donation counts and any amount is greatly appreciated. Let's come together to offer love, support, and hope for Sonya and her family during this unimaginable time. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who has shown support already and to those who will continue to support her into the future.

#SONYAWILLCONQUERCANCER

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