Marnie’s Story

Site created on July 30, 2019


Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


On June 28, 2019 Marnie got the news no one wants to ever receive....she had cancer, specifically  small cell lung cancer.  Unfortunately, that was not the worst news yet.  Intitially doctors thought they'd caught it early, that it was enclosed within the lung, and was treatable and survivable.  But, by July 11, Marnie got worse news, it had already metastasized to her breasts.  A PET Scan had been scheduled for  July 14, and an MRI of the brain on July 16.  While on the way home from the PET Scan Marnie got the call that they were moving her radiation treatments from the following week, to the next day and rather than do 33 treatments they were going to do 10 treatments with 3x's the radiation.  Needless to say fear, sadness, all the feelings one has in this situation were washing over Marnie, but the worst was yet to come.  A week later on July 18 we met with the Oncologist and he told her it had also metastasized to her liver.  The prognosis was 6 weeks to live with no treatment.....hopefully a year if she finished radiation and did chemo.  Trust me when I say, if someone tell you you have 6 weeks, and a painful 6 weeks at that, and you have to make a decision right away, it's hard not to accept treatment.  But, in Marnie's case she had already made that decision prior to that news.  Because Marnie is a fighter, she has 3 beautiful children, 7 beautiful grandchildren and she WANTS to live for them all and for the rest of her family.  She still has 2 sisters, 3 nieces, 1 nephew, 4 great-nephews, and 1 great niece to live for, all of whom love her and want her around for a good long time.  Yes, the prognosis for this type of cancer is not good, but there is a 5% survival rate, and we believe Marnie can and WILL be one of those.  God is ALWAYS in control, and as much as Marnie has a great medical team, doctors can only do so much, and as believers in Jesus, we KNOW He can and does heal.   So, we ask you not for pity, but for love, hope, prayers (lots of them) and laughter.   If you can find it in your heart to help with a donation it would be very much appreciated.  As anyone either on it, or had a family member on Medicare, you will know that Medicare does NOT cover all costs and there are additional costs associated with treatment.  Gas alone has been $100. in just the last week.  ANY amount will help, and will go all towards Marnie's treatment.  Join us as a family in lifting Marnie up, and giving her the best chance to be with us many years from now!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Karen & Nick Nichols

Greetings all! I wish I was coming to you with a better news, Marnie has asked me to update everyone. 2 months ago we were heartened to hear that Marnie's scans after chemo therapy showed all her tumors reduced or gone. We hoped she could go 6 months again like she did last time between treatments. However, on her most recent scans the tumors have returned to her breast, adrenal gland, kidneys, liver and stomach area as well as the originals in the lungs. They have either increased in size or there are additional tumors. This is indicative that the last round of chemo medication did not work. So, on October 29th Marnie will once again begin a new round of chemotherapy with a new cocktail of medications. As always we treasure and value your prayers for Marnie as she moves through this process. We have said from the start only God knows when it is her time and God can choose to heal if it is His will for her life and our lives. If that is not to be then we want marnie to know she is loved around the world. 
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