Sheree's story August 14, 2001

My Story

As I sit here, with tears flowing down my face with joy, I am writing this with the hopes that somehow, someway, I will be able to encourage, inspire and/or help someone out there with this story. And right now as I sit here I feel like the LUCKIEST person in the world! I have been so blessed by so many people and truly feel that God has granted me that MIRACLE! THANK YOU LORD!

I set out today to take my boys for a walk figuring it was such a beautiful day and we would go for a short walk. Well that short walk wound up being a 2 1/2-mile walk around my beautiful neighborhood, which I haven't seen since moving into my new home last June. I got to enjoy the flowers, the homes, I got to stop and talk to some of my sons classmates parents who couldn't believe how far from home I was. IT WAS AWESOME! I haven't been able to walk for 2 blocks let alone 2 miles since my diagnosis last may.

LIFE IS WONDERFUL! I AM SO TRULY BLESSED!

I was very foolish last May when I made a choice to dispose of information that one of my oldest and dearest friends Jennifer gave me on some alternative therapy. THANK YOU LORD that she didn't give up on me. She persisted and along with my hair dresser and good friend Pamela they brought me everything the day after my diagnosis of the brain tumor. I will be forever grateful for her persistence and for not giving up on me when I was so willing to give up on myself. I have been blessed by so many people and I have so many people to thank for there support, love and care for me since last May. Family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, neighbors, and those closest to me. Know matter what the doctors say about this disease in my body, which they don’t give me much hope, I feel better than I have felt in a very long time and will continue to pray clean scans. Oh and the lump under my arm.... It’s getting smaller:)

God blesses everyone reading this and may his angels surround you and protect you.

Sheree Weipert rileynono@home.com

Contact me anytime for information on the alternative therapies I am using.

Medical History: June 1992 Found a black mole on my back that was itching me. Had it checked out and it turned out to be malignant melanoma. Surgically removed with clean margins. Followed up with the doctors every six months for 5 years with chest x rays, blood work and exams. Everything was A OK!

May 2000 found a lump under my arm in the shower. Went to DR’s I medially, sent for needle biopsy, came back positive for MM. OMG, how could this be happening to me again. Removed mole clean margins. Had CT scans all were good with the exception of a spot on my liver and spleen (watching closely).

Surgery May 22, 2000 an axilary node dissection in my left arm. 2 out of 20 nodes were positive. Recovered well (moved into a new home 3 weeks later) and began the High dose Interferon treatments. Made it too the 18th treatment and they stopped due to the horrible headaches I was having. Now in my 6th month of Int treatment 3 x week. Blood work all perfect, but arm has been bothering me. Developed celulitis in my arm over the holidays and was put on antibiotics. Well arm still bothering me and I found lump in armpit went to Dr. right away. DR’s say it is possible that it is swollen nodes from infection, but sent me for CT scans and put me on antibiotics again to see if they go away. If not back to surgery I go. Didn't expect the news I received. CT scans shows growth on spleen and nodules in my lungs. Not very good, scared out of my wits. Meeting with oncologist today, and going to U of M next, Karmanos Cancer instated and Cleveland Clinic for my options.

My options are bio chemotherapy or the Vaccine trial at U of M. I am starting the Trial at U of M Melanoma clinic Monday Feb 19, beginning with another axilary node dissection and hopefully they will obtain enough cells to create a vaccine for me (Autologous Dentritic Cell Vaccine. Had surgery, nodes removed and enough antigens retrieved for vaccine, however during routine tests MRI showed a small tumor in my brain so I am now no longer a candidate for any trial. Tumor found is a pea size tumor, non-operable, docs don't want to do WBR yet and gamma knife isn't an option. Starting Temador and Thalidomide, much more tolerable than the Interferon. Also started taking herbs, Cantron, went on a macrobiotic diet and have made huge changes in my life.

June 2001 After 2 rounds (12 weeks) of Temador and Thalidomide It is with great sadness that I report to you all that after 3 months (2 rounds) of t and t my MRI showed growth in the brain tumor and my cat scan showed growth in the other areas where my disease is. I had a MRI and CT scan done. The scans show growth in all places. The tumor in the brain is located in the brain stem in the pons area , which rules out surgery, gamma knife and steriotatic radiation. I am out of options at Univ. of Mich. as the only thing they can offer me now is WBR and they sent me to Henry Ford for a 2nd opinion. No symptoms feel great physically however mentally is another question. Sending my MRI and CT scans to MD Anderson, John Wayne Cancer Institute and a Brain Tumor Specialist in Boston who specializes in tumors located in the Brain stem only.

Went to Henry Ford for a second opinion and here is what has transpired since the news of the growth. After a long exhausting week this update is from my husband as I am overloaded with information right now and can't think straight. It has been my mission to find out every avenue that I can take and have been on the phone day and night with other cancer institutions, people who have been treated and some of my wonderful new friends via the Internet helping me find all my options! Marty's turn: The doctors are unsure if it is Melanoma or a different type of cancer (glioma). Their plan at Henry Ford is to do 3-dimensional conformal radiation for 10 - 15 days rather than Whole Brain Radiation. The 3-d radiation is a focused beamed radiation using a computer-generated map of the inside of my skull that specifically targets the tumor. The beam is shaped like the tumor from each angle that is treated and this minimizes damage to surrounding tissue. My MRI films will be presented to the tumor board at Henry Ford on Wednesday, Thursday is my mapping consultation and it will take 4-5 days for them to develop the plan. I will be having another MRI as soon as they can get it scheduled prior to beginning treatment to make sure the tumor has/hasn't changed. A set of films is in the mail to MD Anderson to be reviewed by a specialist in brain stems and I am waiting to hear what they have to say.

July 16, 2001 Well folks everything has changed! I got a call today from Henry Ford and the treatment plan for Radiation is no longer. It seems that they don't want to go with 5 weeks of radiation and they have decided (a board of neuro radiologists and neuro surgeons) to use the route of Brain Radiosurgery. I will be admitted into the Hospital on Thursday morning at 7am and will be there the day and this will be a one-time radiation boost to the tumor. I must say that I am extremely anxious as I will have to have one of those Hailo's screwed in my head for the procedure and I am going to be put on heavy steroids to avoid swelling in the brain stem area. July 19, 2001 Brain Radiosurgery done! 9:31 PM, long day, been out of it. I am ok, things went well so the Doctors say after they scared the heck out of me and hubby this am telling us exactly how risky this was. I have signs of fluid build up in my brain stem so I had no choice but to go ahead with the procedure as it would of been risky not too have. I know that I am in the Lords hands and that he is going to take care of me. Feeling GREAT!