Shirley Levy is a loving and compassionate daughter, sister, and fiancée.  At just 35-years-old and after 4 months of excruciating pain and misdiagnoses, Shirley was shockingly diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Ewing’s Sarcoma in April of 2011.  Ewing’s is a rare bone and soft tissue cancer that is most often seen in children.   Shirley has tumors in her pelvis and pancreas, and the cancer has been detected in her bone marrow.  The tumor in her pelvis has invaded the bone and wrapped itself around her sciatic nerve, which has currently left her unable to walk.  As a result of the aggressiveness of the cancer and size of the right pelvic tumor (14x15x19 cm), Shirley and her family had to make the unimaginable decision to begin either chemotherapy or radiation treatment before pathologists could make a final diagnosis. Without time to process this life-altering information, our beloved Shirley began chemotherapy
treatment on April 7th. 

Shirley is currently being given 17 rounds of intense, high dosage chemotherapy every 2 weeks that will last a year or more, with constant transition between the hospital and home.  With each inpatient treatment cycle, Shirley has to go back to the hospital for an unspecified amount of time, as a result she never gets fully comfortable or adjusted to life at home with family and friends. Radiation therapy may also be required at some point.  And hopefully, at a later stage, the tumor will shrink enough to allow for surgery.  For now, however, she requires around the clock care due to her immobility and weakened state.  At this time, she always has a family member around and a full-time caretaker. 

Shirley is a Marriage & Family Therapist and heads a program called the Children’s Full Service Partnership, which assists underserved children with serious emotional disturbances and their families.  She is very highly regarded professionally and is known to be unfailingly patient, gentle and kind regardless of the situation.  Even with all her achievements Shirley has managed to stay humble, down to earth and approachable.

The news of Shirley’s diagnosis has been devastating to Shirley, her parents, 3 sisters, fiancée, extended family and friends.  She has always been so strong, generous and kind to everyone in her life.  As her coworker stated so perfectly, “Shirley is one of those rare people about whom no one has a bad word to say.”

While on this cumbersome journey the family focuses on taking it day by day to get through the physical and emotional challenges that arise.  The outpouring of love, support, prayers, and positive energy from family, friends and the community has been truly appreciated.  The Levy family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to everyone during this difficult time.

The Talbert Family Foundation will donate 100% of the funds raised in Shirley's Fund to Shirley and her family.