Who is Sheryl Middleton?

Sheryl Middleton is a kind person who always greets you with a smile. A great cook and baker, her famous brownies and treats were always a highlight on long bus rides to high school football games and band and winter guard competitions with the parents. Her work family at Toms River HS East was the luckiest because they had her cheesecake! Sheryl was always eager to help wherever she could. She has a great sense of humor and was at times, a prankster in the office. Sheryl is a niece, a sister, a cousin, and a friend. Her most important role is being our mom.

My Mom is the strongest person I know. A divorced single mom, she raised me and my sister in a loving home and was an amazing, strong role model. When her mother got very sick with cancer, my mom took her in, and she and my aunt took care of her in our home. In addition to working full-time, she worked to take care of us and my grandmother. And now, it’s her turn.

Sheryl’s Story:

Sheryl's journey with metastatic colon cancer began in January 2023. When her doctor sent her to the emergency room for testing, it was discovered that her hemoglobin was dangerously low. After treatment, a colonoscopy showed that she had a large tumor in her colon. She had a colon resection and due to complications, required two additional surgeries which resulted in her being fitted with a colostomy. A scan showed that she also had two small masses in her liver. My mom finally recovered enough to begin her chemotherapy in May 2023. Her treatment, however, was paused in August and her case was transferred to Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) at their location in Middletown. They sent her for surgery in NYC the following month. The MSK surgeon removed a portion of her liver and performed an ablation to remove the masses on her liver. They also inserted a hepatic pump that would be used to inject a high dose chemotherapy directly to the liver, which would hopefully prevent the cancer from returning to that site.

After her recovery, she resumed her chemo treatments which she completed by Christmas of 2023. Unfortunately, a follow-up colonoscopy and CT scan in January 2024 showed a new tumor had formed. She then began a 27-day radiation and chemotherapy treatment that ran weekdays from February 27th until April 3rd. During this time, my mom would go to work and then go get her treatment in the afternoon to save her sick and vacation days, as her employer does not participate in NJ State Disability. The two-month scan in May 2024 was promising, the tumor was shrinking and her blood work looked good. But the four- month scan was a different story. The tumor grew back bigger and created a hole in her small intestine. Back to NY we went and my mom had a small intestine bypass performed. Once she recovered, she had her 1st chemo treatment on September 18, 2024. Soon after that, she had another complication that required a minor procedure. If this wasn’t enough, she developed a saddle pulmonary embolism and had a catheterization to remove as much as possible. Unfortunately, her chemotherapy treatment has been put on hold until she recovers enough to handle the chemo.

Why we are fundraising:

As of now, my mom is on medical leave from her job. After being denied previously for Social Security Disability, she is still waiting for approval on her second application. Her employer does not participate in NJ State Disability Insurance and since she didn’t purchase a commercial plan and is under the age for Social Security, she currently has no source of income. We are asking for financial assistance to cover her medical expenses such as temporary insurance, out-of- pocket costs, necessary medical supplies and equipment. The physical experience and mental strain of finding a way to finance her continued battle to live has become overwhelming.

Thank you:

We understand that times are difficult financially for many people right now. We sincerely appreciate any help you can provide at this time. If you are unable to contribute, please consider sharing my mom’s story.

Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

Sincerely,

Sydney Middleton

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