#sissyconsissy - with our community we conquer

Hi my name is Karen Mangeney and this is a story about my sissy and our battle to beat brain cancer. Some people know her as Dirty, Red, Lady Di, Aunt Diane, or just "sissy" (not even knowing her name is Diane as you might be a client who's never met her or someone who stumbled upon this from our army of people sharing it) but most have definitely heard me talk about her and share stories of our journey through life together as #sissyconsissy

I promise you, if you know her YOU LOVE HER if you don't, follow along on our FB video journey so you can "meet" her for yourself.

Diane Mangeney-Biro, she's truly the most talented, beautiful, kind, generous, funny, smart woman you'll ever meet. To some she's a friend, a co-worker, a daughter, a sister, a niece, an aunt, a cousin, a daughter in law, sister in law and even an ex wife who still maintains a close relationship as a "Biro" which is a true testament to who she is and what her character stands for...but to me she is my person, she is my big sister, she's my ride or die, the yin to my yang, she is MY ABSOLUTE EVERYTHING!!!!!!

On November 25th (two days after Thanksgiving) she was headed to the airport to catch a flight back to work (she is a flight attendant) and had a seizure (something she had never had before). She was taken to the hospital and after a CT scan and MRI our world began to shatter. At first it started off that it was a lesion (a softer word to substitute the scary reality, it was a TUMOR). The next test was a brain biopsy and that was when our life flashed before our eyes as we received the deadly diagnosis that she has an inoperable High Grade Glioblastoma Multi forme tumor as well as 3 other lesions. To say in that moment I felt the life leave my body, I can never express the emotion and I would never wish this on anyone!!!!!!!!

We were told that the only treatment would be radiation and chemo and that the average life span varied (0 to 18 months but some have survived 6 years and yes, there is a small subset of people that have beat it and are thriving). With the love and support of our friends, family and community along with the grace of God, it is our mission to be in that subset group to beat this and overcome the odds, sharing our victory and helping others reach theirs!

After her initial diagnosis we traveled to Duke Medical in Durham, NC and got a second opinion from the team headed by the world renowned Dr. Friedman and with that opinion came the addition of an antibody drip to be added to her protocol that would assist in a better treatment plan.

During this time since November 25th, my sissy has not been able to work (she is out on FMLA) as well as myself (her full time care giver), my business has had to take a back seat to what is most important #familyfirst! We have completely changed her entire diet and daily routine to remove all chemicals, dyes and harmful agents that could contribute to the battle we already have but it's expensive and is a round the clock job WHICH I WILL DO UNTIL I TAKE MY LAST BREATH!

I truly believe that having a healthy mind, body and spirit is critical to all of our lives but especially to those fighting a health battle as serious as this. This road will be rough, it will be taxing and it will be expensive but it will also be worth it when we not only beat the odds, but through our journey, we want to share the information we learn along the way to help the next person who travels this road.

We are researching every possible clinical trial available, exhausting every lead we get and will continue to do this as we go through the battle and treatment. It is my hope that we can help navigate through this journey with the help of our friends, family and community, leaning on you for support as so many of you have already offered. Support doesn't come in only one form, monetary is helpful and needed because of the already mounting medical bills, food, gas, time off work and expenses to keep up with life in general but YOUR PRAYERS, your love, your kind messages, your willingness to run errands, grocery shop, make food, be a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on as well as your assistance in researching and directing us to roads of hope, those are all greatly appreciated from our whole hearts, especially mine because I always say being Kind can help us all overcome and become!

Our current medical direction is treatment but our main goal is getting to Germany for a trial that has REAL PROMISE, REAL HOPE and REAL success. We have submitted our intake forms and are in the queue to be reviewed and we pray we qualify (which will be very costly and not covered by insurance.)

We have NEVER been one to ask for help, NEVER! In fact it's taken us this long to start this fundraiser because it's just not who we are. Our parents taught us to work hard and go after everything we want in life without expectations only the commitment to never quit. But we also know we cannot do this alone, it's going to take an army and so we are reaching out to our army for help. Any dollar amount, any act of kindness any glimmer of hope, WE APPRECIATE YOU!

As her sister, as her care giver and as her best friend, I WILL NOT QUIT until we reach the goal and prove that if we stay strong, stay positive, do our part to assist western medicine and have absolute faith, WE CAN BEAT THIS!

Much love to you all!

from our ENTIRE family, we appreciate you

and to our mom and dad, thank you for raising us to be so close, you've given us the world so now its time to save your world, your first born, your forever baby girl.