astrocytoma
As of yesterday, 2/6/12 my daughter, Serena has been diagnosed with a 6 cm astrocytoma in the left temporal and frontal lobes of her brain. She doesn’t have health insurance. The diagnostic surgery (craniotomy to obtain a biopsy of the tumor) that is necessary to make a complete diagnosis and plan treatment will coast a minimum of $40,000.00. Of course then the treatment necessary will cost even more.
Serena has started an Etsy Shoppe online where people can donate jewelry for her to sell, and she can sell the jewelry and crafts that she makes. Also people can by jewelry from her. Soon we will also set up a donation website to help us raise the money for her to receive the care she needs.
She will also hold a yard sale on the weekend of March 2nd - 4th to help raise necessary funds at 321 E. 23rd St. Tucson, AZ 85713.
Please see the information below from Serena herself:
“Dear Friends and Family,
I’m sending you this email because I love each and every one of you – and I am about to share some news. I have a brain tumor that is the size of a baseball on the left side of my brain. This tumor has apparently been in there for a long time. I only found out about it because it has started giving me seizures, and I went to the ER to figure out what the heck was going on with me. I’m really fortunate that this tumor is currently impacting parts of the brain that typically don’t get used. I am also very lucky that the doctor I was assigned at Tucson Medical Center is very understanding about my finances – and he says we can take some time to schedule a biopsy. The biopsy will tell us more about the specific type of tumor I have – and it will help us determine what my treatment will be like.
I am going to kick cancer’s butt, but I need friends and family to help me. There are two specific ways in which you can help me.
1. Ye Olde Etsy Shoppe
I have set up an Etsy shop to sell crafts. I will be selling things I make myself, of course, but I would also love to sell crafts that my friends and family have made. Every dollar raised through the Etsy shop will go towards paying for my brain surgery – as well as all the treatment that will come after the biopsy. It’s as simple as that. The more items we sell, the sooner Dr. Sanan can drill into my skull! 
If you’d like to buy items on the Etsy shop, please visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/sizzledesign.
If you’re in Tucson, please notify me via email that you’d like to buy something so that we can avoid the shipping costs.
To contribute jewelry and other crafts, please e-mail me and we’ll work out the details.
2. Yard Sale with a Bake Shop Attached
Shannon and I are going to have a yard sale the weekend of March 2 – 4. Please email writersunitetofightcancer@gmail.com for location in Tucson, AZ. Got old books, clothing, or kitchen stuff that you’ve been dying to get rid of? Contribute them to the yard sale! If you’re in Tucson and would be willing to help staff the yard sale, that would be great. Please also make a note to come and shop . . . and tell your friends to come, too!
As The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says, “Don’t Panic.” Yes, a brain tumor is a good excuse for not driving a car – but it’s not the end of the world. And with a little help from my family and friends, I can git’r'done!
Love,
Serena”
