Marria's future with Stage 4 Lung Cancer

Marria, our incredible sister-in-law, Dan and Julia need little introduction as is evident by the amount of people who have already reached out inquiring about how to help them, but maybe what they are up against does.

In August 2022 Marria came back from a trip feeling run down and followed up with a doctor. The doctor suspected pneumonia and ordered a chest x-ray for confirmation. Initially the feedback was “yes - pneumonia” but within an hour of that initial diagnosis a radiologist reached out with concerns of a lung mass as an alternate diagnosis. The doctor sent the x-ray to another radiologist for a second opinion and he supported the pneumonia diagnosis. The advice Marria received was to take antibiotics but to follow up with a repeat x-ray in three weeks to ensure improvement and be sure nothing was missed. Marria completed the round of antibiotics and started to feel a little better but the results of the repeat x-ray three weeks later showed no change.

On October 19th a CT scan was done, confirming a 4 cm mass in her right lung. Marria was then sent for a PET scan. On November 8th the Joughins received the devastating news that the PET scan showed evidence of cancer in Marria’s lung, lymph nodes, pelvis and liver. Marria underwent a lung biopsy for further diagnostic clarification and just today, December 8th, got a name for the beast: stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. Devastating and shocking doesn’t come close to describing this news.

Currently Dan, Marria and Julia are waiting for confirmation of any cancer biomarkers and genetics that will further dictate what available treatment options there are for Marria. She is scheduled to see a medical oncologist for the first time on December 20 and they anticipate having more information about possible treatment options at that stage. According to Marria’s doctor, “this is a one in a million situation” as Marria is 30 years younger than the average lung cancer patient, has no smoking history and is otherwise incredibly healthy.

Understandably, this has been a terribly hard few months and the Joughins are trying their best to process this seemingly impossible diagnosis and how best to move forward in helping Marz. Stage 4 lung cancer is an overwhelming diagnosis but Dan, Marria and Julia are committed to finding all available conventional and alternative treatment options to help Marria fight this disease. Unfortunately, not all medications (i.e. anti-nausea meds) or treatment options (nutritionists, naturopaths, supplements, vitamin therapy, etc.) are covered under our medical system. Marria has had to stop working and Dan is trying to balance his new real estate career while supporting Marz, attending a steady stream of medical appointments and corresponding with health providers.

Dan and Marria are fiercely invested in their people and even their people’s people and are always among the first to say "yes" to helping others in any way they can. So many people have reached out wondering how they can help and this Go-Fund-Me campaign is the answer to that question. We can't change Marria's diagnosis but we can continue the outpouring of love with our calls and messages and we can help ease their burden, even just a bit. Your donations will support Dan, Marria and Julia through this uncertain time and allow them to focus their attention and energy on what truly matters. These aren’t just our family members or favourite people on the planet, they are truly some of the best specimens of kindness, generosity and love. Thank you for reading. We deeply appreciate any support you can offer.

With love Simon and Soph