Valerie's Cancer Fighting Fund
Donation protected
Valerie left us one week ago today, on March 21st. We had a private memorial with immediate family a couple days ago, and she was laid to rest at Medicine Rocks Cemetery.
https://memorials.stevensonfuneralhome.com/valerie-poppema/4140175/index.php?fbclid=IwAR0u28iGyi68YufwC57Brc32FPKEPEQh_kugNiqa5SyEDq0CCGDu6DcY8FU
Stephanie, her sister, wrote the following reflection:
I had a sister. She was one-and-a-half years older than me and I remember how mad I was when I learned that I would never catch up to her in age; I now dread that day. They say you never fully appreciate what you have until it is taken away, and right now I feel like truer words have never been spoken. Valerie spent her entire life, literally to the end, trying to help those she cared about. In her final weeks when I came to her home in Montana to do what I could for her and her family, she was asking me every few days how I was doing. She was unable to care for herself but she still was doing what she could to take care of me.
My sister pushed/encouraged/challenged me in everything I did, and I know much of my personal strength is thanks to her. Valerie was very mature from a young age and always seemed to be the glue that held our family together. Even though we spent the last 22 years living in different places (her independent personality lead her to get an apartment and start her own cleaning business in her senior year of high school), thanks to Valerie’s initiation we never went too long without talking or visiting. I could always count on her to be there for me, no matter what the situation.
My sister always found unique ways to have fun. She seemed to be almost fearless and did not let other people’s judgment stop her from expressing herself or having a good time. Even when I was a teenager and thought I was too cool or grown up to play in playgrounds, she would not stop pushing me until I would finally give in and join her on a slide, swing or merry-go-round. She was my best roller-coaster buddy, right up to her final months of life.
My sister was a natural born leader. I would never acknowledge it growing up, but I wanted to do everything she did. My first four jobs as a teenager were jobs she had gotten before me. When Valerie cared about a group/organization, she would get involved and take a leadership role. Valerie amazed me with her ability to put her mind to something and succeed with it.
My sister was living her dream life when she was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2018. Throughout her difficult fight to beat the cancer, she was comforting everyone around her. Even when Valerie learned that all of the painful treatments she endured were not successful, she remained strong for those around her, even though she did not need to. Valerie never got angry at her situation, but instead tried to make her premature passing as easy for her family as she could. I was not expecting that spending so much time with Valerie in her final months would change me so much, but I guess I should have expected that from Valerie. I owe much of who I am to my big sister.
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Update 9/8/2019: Valerie's treatments have not been successful and her body is not tolerating her last option of therapy, so she has made the difficult decision to discontinue her treatments. Now she can enjoy her final months with her family and friends without so much pain. Valerie is focusing on setting her family up for the many struggles that lie ahead. We appreciate donations to help Valerie, Brian and their six children in this extremely difficult time.
Thank you to everyone for your support, it makes such a difference.
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Update 9/1/2019: It is with very heavy hearts that we share this update. After enduring very strong chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, the cancer remained. It is still very aggressive and Valerie's only option is one last chemotherapy drug (Kadcyla); with the treatment, her doctors estimate she has 4 months to 2 years. Valerie started Kadcyla last Thursday, and so far she is not experiencing any bad side effects. Valerie and all of the family have a very challenging road ahead, so the campaign is again open to donations. Thank you for your support.
This fundraising page now has a new purpose, to help Valerie maximize her limited time with family and help set up her husband and six children for their difficult journey without her.
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A few days ago, our sister Valerie began her battle with an aggressive stage 4 cancer that started in her breast and has migrated to several other parts of her body. While she is still having tests done to learn the full extent of the cancer, her doctors are being very aggressive with her treatment and started chemotherapy quickly. After a few rounds of chemotherapy, they will look to surgically remove as much of the cancer as possible. One of the tumors has already grown to the size of a softball.
After spending most of her life in Holland, Michigan, Valerie and her husband Brian moved their family to rural Montana. Valerie and Brian have six children, ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years old. Valerie and her family live on a very modest income, so they need help to pay for all of the added expense her treatment will bring. Valerie needs to be driven nearly 300 miles from her rural town to a hospital in Billings for her treatments. All donated money will go directly to Valerie, to help her and her family pay for treatments and other expenses.
'
We will continue to update this page as we learn more about the road ahead for Valerie and her family.
We sincerely thank everyone for supporting our sister.
Stephanie, Jaquelyn, Cindy (sister-in-law), and Todd (brother-in-law)
https://memorials.stevensonfuneralhome.com/valerie-poppema/4140175/index.php?fbclid=IwAR0u28iGyi68YufwC57Brc32FPKEPEQh_kugNiqa5SyEDq0CCGDu6DcY8FU
Stephanie, her sister, wrote the following reflection:
I had a sister. She was one-and-a-half years older than me and I remember how mad I was when I learned that I would never catch up to her in age; I now dread that day. They say you never fully appreciate what you have until it is taken away, and right now I feel like truer words have never been spoken. Valerie spent her entire life, literally to the end, trying to help those she cared about. In her final weeks when I came to her home in Montana to do what I could for her and her family, she was asking me every few days how I was doing. She was unable to care for herself but she still was doing what she could to take care of me.
My sister pushed/encouraged/challenged me in everything I did, and I know much of my personal strength is thanks to her. Valerie was very mature from a young age and always seemed to be the glue that held our family together. Even though we spent the last 22 years living in different places (her independent personality lead her to get an apartment and start her own cleaning business in her senior year of high school), thanks to Valerie’s initiation we never went too long without talking or visiting. I could always count on her to be there for me, no matter what the situation.
My sister always found unique ways to have fun. She seemed to be almost fearless and did not let other people’s judgment stop her from expressing herself or having a good time. Even when I was a teenager and thought I was too cool or grown up to play in playgrounds, she would not stop pushing me until I would finally give in and join her on a slide, swing or merry-go-round. She was my best roller-coaster buddy, right up to her final months of life.
My sister was a natural born leader. I would never acknowledge it growing up, but I wanted to do everything she did. My first four jobs as a teenager were jobs she had gotten before me. When Valerie cared about a group/organization, she would get involved and take a leadership role. Valerie amazed me with her ability to put her mind to something and succeed with it.
My sister was living her dream life when she was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2018. Throughout her difficult fight to beat the cancer, she was comforting everyone around her. Even when Valerie learned that all of the painful treatments she endured were not successful, she remained strong for those around her, even though she did not need to. Valerie never got angry at her situation, but instead tried to make her premature passing as easy for her family as she could. I was not expecting that spending so much time with Valerie in her final months would change me so much, but I guess I should have expected that from Valerie. I owe much of who I am to my big sister.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update 9/8/2019: Valerie's treatments have not been successful and her body is not tolerating her last option of therapy, so she has made the difficult decision to discontinue her treatments. Now she can enjoy her final months with her family and friends without so much pain. Valerie is focusing on setting her family up for the many struggles that lie ahead. We appreciate donations to help Valerie, Brian and their six children in this extremely difficult time.
Thank you to everyone for your support, it makes such a difference.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update 9/1/2019: It is with very heavy hearts that we share this update. After enduring very strong chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, the cancer remained. It is still very aggressive and Valerie's only option is one last chemotherapy drug (Kadcyla); with the treatment, her doctors estimate she has 4 months to 2 years. Valerie started Kadcyla last Thursday, and so far she is not experiencing any bad side effects. Valerie and all of the family have a very challenging road ahead, so the campaign is again open to donations. Thank you for your support.
This fundraising page now has a new purpose, to help Valerie maximize her limited time with family and help set up her husband and six children for their difficult journey without her.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few days ago, our sister Valerie began her battle with an aggressive stage 4 cancer that started in her breast and has migrated to several other parts of her body. While she is still having tests done to learn the full extent of the cancer, her doctors are being very aggressive with her treatment and started chemotherapy quickly. After a few rounds of chemotherapy, they will look to surgically remove as much of the cancer as possible. One of the tumors has already grown to the size of a softball.
After spending most of her life in Holland, Michigan, Valerie and her husband Brian moved their family to rural Montana. Valerie and Brian have six children, ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years old. Valerie and her family live on a very modest income, so they need help to pay for all of the added expense her treatment will bring. Valerie needs to be driven nearly 300 miles from her rural town to a hospital in Billings for her treatments. All donated money will go directly to Valerie, to help her and her family pay for treatments and other expenses.
'
We will continue to update this page as we learn more about the road ahead for Valerie and her family.
We sincerely thank everyone for supporting our sister.
Stephanie, Jaquelyn, Cindy (sister-in-law), and Todd (brother-in-law)
Organizer
Stephanie McNeil
Organizer
Billings Metropolitan Area, MT