Marika & Chris Gilligan

Hi Family and Friends: Marika has been battling appendix cancer for a little over 8 years now. Just before the onset of COVID almost 3 years ago, her Canadian doctors told her that her tumour was inoperable. Marika has endured 3 years of chemotherapy and unhealthy amounts of pain medication as the tumour has grown in her abdomen and has breached through her abdominal wall. In September of 2022, Marika spent a month at Southlake hospital as a result of the chemo breaking down her body. Things were very dire early in her stay, and due to the state of her general health from the effects of the chemo, the doctors had decided to end the chemotherapy treatments. We were told that the medical staff had exhausted all treatment options at Southlake.

With the help of blood transfusions and the rebalancing of Marika's blood chemistry, Marika was discharged from the hospital just after Thanksgiving. Soon after Marika's return home, a friend of hers forwarded an article that was on CBC about a woman from Windsor who also suffers from appendix cancer and sought surgery in the U.S. We reached out to the women in Windsor, through Marika's online support group.

Chris and Marika were given contact, with a surgeon, in Pittsburgh, PA. After two separate virtual appointments with two renown surgeons and numerous communications with the support staff in Pittsburgh, Marika has been schedule for surgery on March 16th for life-saving/extending surgery. We plan on leaving for Pittsburgh on March 14th. The surgery will be difficult and the recovery will be long and challenging. Chris and Marika will be together during this much-needed surgery. The length of stay is expected to be two weeks. This surgery provides a glimmer of hope that hasn't been there for a long while.

Marika and Chris have 2 children, Shawn and Sarah. Shawn is well known to the Friday Night Hockey League from his year's timekeeping and more recently on the ice both Fridays and also on Sundays with the Fatboys 3-on-3 league. Sarah is in her 3rd year of studies at Carleton University in Ottawa hoping to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a teacher.

The family is praying for a positive outcome as a result of this much-needed surgery.

With your financial support, we can financially assist the family through this life-threatening surgery. Your donation is appreciated and we look forward to giving you updates as the family progresses through this surgery and recovery.

Thank you for your kindness!!

Warmest & Kindest Regards,

Chris & Marika