Lori Engler

Welcome family, friends and all of the new friends we will be making along this journey. We are using this Caring Bridge site to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

You never know when life will hit you with a hardball and sadly our family is taking another hit.  Lori and Kim found out 2 weeks ago that Lori has invasive lobular breast cancer which is also in her lymph node.  She found it the day before Kim had her shoulder repaired, so now we have the two of them facing weeks/months of medical care.  Lori has found Dr. Nathalie Johnson and her team of medical professionals to help navigate the next several months.  Her team has taken the reins and will keep this complex journey coordinated leaving Lori to battle the cancer and one armed Kim to support her.  Lori's primary goal is, of course, to get through the next 16-20 weeks of chemotherapy, radiation (if needed) and surgery. (We believe following in the steps of Wonder woman she will do very well.)  She is also graduating with her Master's in Special Education in May.  Her short term goal is to walk with her class at graduation.  She has been teaching at Dayton Middle/High school this year and is contracted for next year.  Her coworkers have stepped up in a huge way by donating sick hours to keep her employed through the remainder of the school year.  Without them this journey would have taken a far different turn.  We will never be able to thank them enough!

Yesterday we met with Lori's oncologist, Dr. Mitri and started the plan for her chemotherapy.  Today she is having a minor surgery to place the catheter port o administer her chemo.  Next Wednesday the treatment begins.  We will keep you updated regularly on Lori's progress and ways you are able to support them.  It does take a village and ours is growing :)