Please help the McCord Family

We are reaching out to you to share the story of a remarkable woman, Dorota (Dorothy) McCord, a beloved mother, wife, daughter, and sister, who has been battling cancer for the past 13 years.

Dorota's Story:

Dorota was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma (brain tumor) in 2010. In 2014, they determined the mass was malignant, and she underwent a risky surgery to remove the tumor, which was largely successful. After chemotherapy and radiation treatment for over a year, what had been left of the tumor after surgery remained stagnant, allowing her to raise her children over the past nine years. Her strength and determination never waivered and she approached life with a positive attitude despite all she had suffered.

Unfortunately, life threw the family a curveball this past spring. As a result of radiation treatment several years ago, Dorota developed sarcoma, a rare and extremely aggressive form of skin cancer, on her skull, which had infiltrated her brain. She endured a lengthy surgery in June to remove what they could of the affected area. Sadly, complications from the surgery caused her to remain hospitalized for a month due to brain swelling, resulting in the loss of some speech and motor functions. Her husband Sean, who works in Alaska (the family resides in Florida), had to leave his job to be with her and was unable to return for several months afterward as he remained in Florida to care for her and their children. He had just returned to work in September and the family was hoping they would be able to recover financially and Dorota's health would improve. Tragically, at her follow-up visit last week, they were told the cancer was back.

Dorota's Prognosis:

The recurring sarcoma has been detected in the cranial bone as well as the soft tissue of the cerebellum, rendering surgery impossible. Traditional chemotherapy is not an option and they will attempt to treat her with a pill-based genotherapy. The only other option at this point is an experimental treatment that is not covered by medical insurance and would require the family to travel to Spain or Texas, costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Why We Need Your Help:

We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help the family as they navigate this battle. Sean has once again had to leave his job, and the family does not have any income. Money raised from this campaign will go to help the family with medical expenses, additional treatments, and any other costs associated with this ongoing battle. Hopefully, this will alleviate some of the financial stress they are under with Sean out of work, and allow them to enroll her in the potentially life-saving treatment available outside of their home state.

Dorota is a strong, resilient woman and is determined to win this battle so she will be there for her children. Their son, Shane is a sophomore at Florida State University and their daughter Alia is a junior in high school. They want nothing more than to see their mother recover and live the life she deserves. Please consider donating, sharing this campaign with anyone who might be in a position to help them, and praying for her recovery. Your kindness and generosity will make a difference for Dorota and her loved ones. Let the McCord Family know they are not alone in this fight.