Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place about Sarena's journey fighting stage 4 Ewings sarcoma.
Thank you all for your love and support. If you are here, you probably know I just received some huge news.
Over the past six months, I have been enduring increasing pain in my right pelvis/hip. It was diagnosed as sciatic nerve pain, perhaps resulting from wearing a post-op shoe after bunion surgery. I did chiropractic, yoga, massage. After things didn’t get better I went to Twin cities orthopedics and got an MRI. Since the MRI appeared normal, muscle pain was considered. I got in touch with a specialist at Minneapolis clinic of neurology who diagnosed me with piraformis syndrome. Now I was noticing some swelling as well as pain. I received a cortisone injection but the pain continued to increase. Finally some neuro symptoms came into play. Loss of my axilles reflex, urinary retention, some right leg weakness. That got me a pelvic MRI with contrast that showed a 13x13x7 cm mass on my right sacrum that involved bone, soft tissue, and was “wrapped” around some nerves. That day was a blur: from a phone call with mr. piraformis, a pit stop in the Abbott ER and then a walk over to the MN oncology clinic we finally felt like we were getting some where or at least connected to people who could help. That same day I got a full body CT that showed a small 8mm nodule in my right upper lung. Over the weekend there was a lot of tears mixed with denial. Tuesday, March 26th, I had my sacrum and lung biopsied. Thursday, The 28th I officially received the news that I have Stage 4 Ewing’s Sarcoma with metastasis to the right lung.
The treatment options are agressive chemo to shrink the tumor then radiation or surgery depending on difficulty with nerve involvement. We have a meeting scheduled with a pediatric oncologist to coordinate care since the disease is typically a pediatric cancer. We have a second opinion at mayo in the scheduling phase. For the time being, grad school is on hold until we make more treatment decisions. we are moving ahead with appointments and screening to start chemo April 8th.
Thank you for all your prayers and support as we navigate this huge news. Thanks to my sister in law Naomi Nourse for writing this and my sister in law Kelly Lewis making a meal traim for us. Thanks to Michelle my sister for making a go fund me link as we are very concerned about finances. I will keep you all updated as I start this hard adventure to kick cancer in the ass.
We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
UPDATE WITH VISITATION INFORMATION ON 2/13 AND ONLINE STREAMING OF HER MEMORIAL ON 2/15. PLEASE SHARE: https://www.bradshawfuneral.com/obituary/Sarena-Nourse
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