To Health, Healing and Celebrating
Donation protected
UPDATE!!
Let's help Marilyn celebrate her birthday (May 14th) by offering a donation that will help us reach the goal. Any donation, no matter how small is very much appreciated and will be used towards medical bills and a small birthday celebration once Marilyn is feeling better.
After 25 days in the hospital, she is back home and still improving, day by day. She’s been much more tired than anticipated, so she’s been listening to her body and resting. Her wounds are healing nicely, she’s getting use to doing everything for herself again, and is climbing the 3 flights of stairs in her home. Everything she does takes way more time and effort than usual, but her pain is gone (thank God!!) What remains is occasional discomfort from the temporary catheter and follow up doctor appointments.
Special thanks to her dear friend, Giulia, who has been by her side and served as every helper imaginable from hair washer, translator, counselor, taxi driver, laundry washer, gelato delivery person, personal item fetcher, decision maker, and wardrobe organizer. She has been Marilyn’s guiding light.
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Initial Post
Marilyn is on the path to healing, health and hopefully celebrating very soon. Marilyn entered the emergency room in Italy 18 days ago with severe abdominal pain, thinking it was food poisoning. A similar scenario that happened to her last year. After 3 days in and out of the emergency room and testing, she found the right doctor who began to solve her problems. She was rushed into surgery for the removal of her appendix and drainage of liquid in her abdominal cavity but during the surgery he realized there was a small slit in her bladder. This was the cause of most of her pain, as urine was leaking into the cavity causing irritation, swelling and lots of pain. He sewed up her bladder and the slow, healing process began. Marilyn is now on STRICT bed rest and slowly healing. She's had some complications with drainage and having to undergo another surgery is still a possible option if healing doesn't go as expected.
With the help of a team of amazing doctors and caring nurses, it was discovered that all of these problems resulted from the effects of the radiation therapy she received nearly 10 years ago from her cancer. Basically radiation seriously damaged her "insides" which we knew. What's been realized now is that the two areas that have been affected the worst are her bladder and the last part of her large intestine.. We are so happy that Marilyn will be 10 years cancer free in just a few months, as her body continues to fight and be strong and to able to LIVE a life of health.
Marilyn has made the best of this trying situation with the support of the hospital staff, thoughtful and funny assistants and of course, she has made some close friends with her roommates- one who comes back to visit even though she’s been released. The messages Marilyn has received from her friends and family back home have been uplifting and comforting and her Italian family and friends have been supportive and helpful.
I know we are all over here on the other side of the pond feeling helpless. She isn't in the states so we can't show up with flowers, treats, books, or anything else to make her smile. Since we can’t do any of this, maybe we can each just give a few dollars to help her offset medical expenses, loss of income or even to give her an early birthday present (May 14th).
If you know Marilyn, you know her to be the kind of person who is extremely thoughtful, supportive, gives way more than she receives, and is the one who shows up in every way when you're in need. If we can each pay it forward in a small way, we can help reduce Marilyn's financial worries and bring a giant smile to her face!
Happiness can heal the heart and the body, so even if you're unable to contribute financially, supportive words and messages mean the world to Marilyn. She can be reached via email at [email redacted] and Facebook.
Thank you!!
Kristina
(Marilyn’s college roommate from her Rutgers days)
Let's help Marilyn celebrate her birthday (May 14th) by offering a donation that will help us reach the goal. Any donation, no matter how small is very much appreciated and will be used towards medical bills and a small birthday celebration once Marilyn is feeling better.
After 25 days in the hospital, she is back home and still improving, day by day. She’s been much more tired than anticipated, so she’s been listening to her body and resting. Her wounds are healing nicely, she’s getting use to doing everything for herself again, and is climbing the 3 flights of stairs in her home. Everything she does takes way more time and effort than usual, but her pain is gone (thank God!!) What remains is occasional discomfort from the temporary catheter and follow up doctor appointments.
Special thanks to her dear friend, Giulia, who has been by her side and served as every helper imaginable from hair washer, translator, counselor, taxi driver, laundry washer, gelato delivery person, personal item fetcher, decision maker, and wardrobe organizer. She has been Marilyn’s guiding light.
----------
Initial Post
Marilyn is on the path to healing, health and hopefully celebrating very soon. Marilyn entered the emergency room in Italy 18 days ago with severe abdominal pain, thinking it was food poisoning. A similar scenario that happened to her last year. After 3 days in and out of the emergency room and testing, she found the right doctor who began to solve her problems. She was rushed into surgery for the removal of her appendix and drainage of liquid in her abdominal cavity but during the surgery he realized there was a small slit in her bladder. This was the cause of most of her pain, as urine was leaking into the cavity causing irritation, swelling and lots of pain. He sewed up her bladder and the slow, healing process began. Marilyn is now on STRICT bed rest and slowly healing. She's had some complications with drainage and having to undergo another surgery is still a possible option if healing doesn't go as expected.
With the help of a team of amazing doctors and caring nurses, it was discovered that all of these problems resulted from the effects of the radiation therapy she received nearly 10 years ago from her cancer. Basically radiation seriously damaged her "insides" which we knew. What's been realized now is that the two areas that have been affected the worst are her bladder and the last part of her large intestine.. We are so happy that Marilyn will be 10 years cancer free in just a few months, as her body continues to fight and be strong and to able to LIVE a life of health.
Marilyn has made the best of this trying situation with the support of the hospital staff, thoughtful and funny assistants and of course, she has made some close friends with her roommates- one who comes back to visit even though she’s been released. The messages Marilyn has received from her friends and family back home have been uplifting and comforting and her Italian family and friends have been supportive and helpful.
I know we are all over here on the other side of the pond feeling helpless. She isn't in the states so we can't show up with flowers, treats, books, or anything else to make her smile. Since we can’t do any of this, maybe we can each just give a few dollars to help her offset medical expenses, loss of income or even to give her an early birthday present (May 14th).
If you know Marilyn, you know her to be the kind of person who is extremely thoughtful, supportive, gives way more than she receives, and is the one who shows up in every way when you're in need. If we can each pay it forward in a small way, we can help reduce Marilyn's financial worries and bring a giant smile to her face!
Happiness can heal the heart and the body, so even if you're unable to contribute financially, supportive words and messages mean the world to Marilyn. She can be reached via email at [email redacted] and Facebook.
Thank you!!
Kristina
(Marilyn’s college roommate from her Rutgers days)
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristina Rago
Organizer
Nokomis, FL
Marilyn Hoenge
Beneficiary