Sheri Gontarek

I decided to start this page because there are so many people who love Sheri and updating everyone was growing increasingly difficult. I don’t really know where to start other than saying Sheri is very sick. Please forgive me if I misstate any details or leave anything out. This has been going on for months and the details sometimes get jumbled! Sheri started not feeling well in June 2017. She was very fatigued and had no appetite. She was seen by her PCP and hematologist.  After multiple blood tests, other diagnostics, and several blood transfusions, she was diagnosed with MDS (Myelodyspastic Sydrome). This is a blood disorder that disrupts the production of blood cells. The proposed treatment was a series of injections. They expected her to need several injections before she would really feel any effects. She had her first one on December 20, 2017. She was set to have her next one on December 27, 2017. After arriving to see the hematologist that day, with horrible leg swelling that she had had for a week or so and being barely able to breathe, the hematologist sent her to the hospital. She was admitted that day and remains there. Since her admission, we have been told she is now in liver and kidney failure.  The main concentration right now is getting the excess fluid off of her.  She had her first round of hemodialysis on Saturday, January 6, 2018. Unfortunately, they are unable to take a large portion of fluid off at a time because it drops your blood pressure, and Sheri’s is already low.  She barely eats and they can not do IV nutrients because it will just put more fluid into her that she cannot get rid of. She is in pain, but other than a Lidoderm patch, they cannot give her pain medication because it is processed through your kidney and liver, so she could end up toxic if they gave her other pain medications. She has so many things going on right now that it is a constant balance of trying something new but being careful not to affect something else.   Sheri is a fighter! We know she can overcome all of this! Please please pray for her! Myself and Dawn will update as often as we can. ~ Joanne


**This page is not to collect donations. It is simply a way to relay information to those that love Sheri**