FAITH HOPE LOVE
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FAITH, HOPE, LOVE – Pam’s fight against Mesothelioma
After having a CT scan of what her doctors believed was a hernia, my sister Pam was told she did not have a hernia but rather an unknown mass they suspected was cancer. On February 21, 2017, her doctor delivered devastating news that it was Epithelioid Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a very rare aggressive cancer that attacks the abdominal lining caused by exposure to asbestos. This diagnosis was completely unexpected and now my sister is in the fight of her life. Surgery to remove the mass is not an option at this time as it has compromised her abdominal muscle and since her scans also show small bits of cancer in other areas, the doctors believe chemotherapy is her best chance at shrinking the mass and eradicating the cells that have spread.
Pam is my middle sister (she’s the cute one of the sisters, just ask her …she’ll tell you!) and is married with two beautiful kids, a daughter 14 and a son, 12. She loves to laugh, paint, and family is the one thing that means more to her than anything else. She loves spending time playing with her kids, going to the track to watch races as a family, and just really enjoys life.
Pam has always been a fighter and incredibly strong in the face of adversity. When told her son was autistic and would likely never speak or read or write, rather than feeling sorry for him and just accepting that is how it would be, she tackled it head on and has stopped at nothing to help him have a better life. Today he communicates superbly, can read at a 3rd grade level and not only writes but loves to draw (witches are his favorite!!). With her son’s Autism comes significant financial responsibilities and while it has been difficult at times due to insurance covering very limited services and treatments, their family continues to sacrifice whatever is needed.
Because Mesothelioma is rarely seen and treatment requires the expertise of specialists who have extensive experience with this particular type of cancer, Pam has to be away from her family in North Carolina to be treated by specialists at Dana Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital here in Massachusetts. Now, faced with chemotherapy and fighting for her life, the costs of treating her cancer are absolutely unimaginable.
I am asking for everyone to please pray for my sister and her family and help ease the financial burden they are now facing. All donations are appreciated and will help cover the costs of whatever needs to be done to help save my sister’s life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Joan Palmer
After having a CT scan of what her doctors believed was a hernia, my sister Pam was told she did not have a hernia but rather an unknown mass they suspected was cancer. On February 21, 2017, her doctor delivered devastating news that it was Epithelioid Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a very rare aggressive cancer that attacks the abdominal lining caused by exposure to asbestos. This diagnosis was completely unexpected and now my sister is in the fight of her life. Surgery to remove the mass is not an option at this time as it has compromised her abdominal muscle and since her scans also show small bits of cancer in other areas, the doctors believe chemotherapy is her best chance at shrinking the mass and eradicating the cells that have spread.
Pam is my middle sister (she’s the cute one of the sisters, just ask her …she’ll tell you!) and is married with two beautiful kids, a daughter 14 and a son, 12. She loves to laugh, paint, and family is the one thing that means more to her than anything else. She loves spending time playing with her kids, going to the track to watch races as a family, and just really enjoys life.
Pam has always been a fighter and incredibly strong in the face of adversity. When told her son was autistic and would likely never speak or read or write, rather than feeling sorry for him and just accepting that is how it would be, she tackled it head on and has stopped at nothing to help him have a better life. Today he communicates superbly, can read at a 3rd grade level and not only writes but loves to draw (witches are his favorite!!). With her son’s Autism comes significant financial responsibilities and while it has been difficult at times due to insurance covering very limited services and treatments, their family continues to sacrifice whatever is needed.
Because Mesothelioma is rarely seen and treatment requires the expertise of specialists who have extensive experience with this particular type of cancer, Pam has to be away from her family in North Carolina to be treated by specialists at Dana Farber and Brigham and Women’s Hospital here in Massachusetts. Now, faced with chemotherapy and fighting for her life, the costs of treating her cancer are absolutely unimaginable.
I am asking for everyone to please pray for my sister and her family and help ease the financial burden they are now facing. All donations are appreciated and will help cover the costs of whatever needs to be done to help save my sister’s life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Joan Palmer
Organizer and beneficiary
Joan Palmer
Organizer
Wenham, MA
Pamela Berling
Beneficiary