Maureen Stark as she battles cancer

Hi, my name is Sonya and I am fundraising for Maureen Stark as she battles breast cancer. Maureen is the most loving, generous person, and I want to raise funds for her medical expenses, and covering her costs, as she cannot work while being treated for chemotherapy.

Update March 13, 2023

Hello dear donors, and interested readers.

Thank you for reading this, my second update on my Go Fund Me Journey with breast cancer.

The road has been exciting lately. I am now finished with Chemotherapy! Why?

Well, it’s my decision to no longer subject my body to absorbing those warrior chemicals. According to ultrasound and breast MRI results, a brilliant job has been done which has massively illuminated the cancer cells. What was an 18 millimeter tumor is as of early February, reduced to 3 millimeters, and the enlarged lymph node is now normal. And a March MRI is showing no evidence of cancerous tumors. That is pretty miraculous I would say!!

Wouldn’t you agree?

Now this does not mean the journey is complete. I still haven’t received any release from treatment. But I am saying that I am choosing to stop chemo. Because, well, I have had a complication.

Atrial fibrillation took over me last Friday morning, just when chemo was about start. This landed me in the emergency department for the day. My heart rate was bouncing around 170 and my blood pressure was dropping to 82 / 54. So not so good. I have been put on blood thinners and referred to a cardiologist.

As it turns out Atrial fibrillation is known to strongly correlate with breast cancer, especially for women my age. Who knew?

Not me. But I do now.

This means I need to make a few adjustments to my day to day life.

1. I have lost 20 pounds already during chemo. But now I need to lose another 20 pounds as quickly and carefully as I possibly can.

2. I will have a month to try to get my heart strength up before I meet with the oncologist surgeon. We will then discuss what she sees as my surgical needs. She originally was saying I needed a total mastectomy. I understand that a total mastectomy also increases the likelihood of heart failure, so I am not likely to easily agree to that surgery especially given my current spectacular results. #3. The last medically planned step in my cancer journey is radiation in June or July. Which also increases the risk of heart failure.

So. I’ve not made it out of the woods yet, but I do feel very confident with and happy about my experience and progress so far.

In conclusion. I thank you all for your kindness, Your interest and your support. It means much more than words can possibly say. Please feel free to e-mail or text me anytime with comments or questions.

Warm weather is on its way and here soon.

Life is very good! And I wish you all the very, very best each and every day. This spring. May inspiration rain ( reign) with love for us all.

Maureen Stark.