GoFundMe For Westfield Teacher/Dog Mom Battling Lung Illness

WESTFIELD, NJ — While a Westfield teacher is in the hospital awaiting the results of a lung biopsy and tests, her friends are raising money to help with rent and bills.

Teacher Lisa Barretta, who had survived cervical cancer years ago, had to enter the hospital last week due to pain from what was initially diagnosed as lung cancer, but now may be an abscess, a friend said.

"She has been admitted to the hospital for a while to hopefully get her pain under control," wrote friend Mary Wickens in her initial update on GoFundMe Thursday. "She will need all the help she can get when she is able to go home. Not being able to finish the year with her class is devastating her emotionally."

Wickens added, "Since treatment has begun quickly, she has needed to unexpectedly take a leave of absence from teaching which does not include pay...I have started this fund so she can focus on her health and treatment without worrying about rent, food, or medical bills."

Wickens said she has been a friend of Barretta for more than 20 years, and that Barretta is a beloved aunt, godmother, and teacher.

Barretta was concerned about who would take care of her two dogs, but Wickens said that Barretta's mother is taking care of them for now.

On Tuesday, Wickens had a promising update.

"Lisa is out of surgery and they got the whole mass," she wrote. "The surgeon said it doesn’t seem like cancer; more of an abscess; like a super awful pneumonia, but they’re going to biopsy it and those results could take about a week. The surgeon also said this type of abscess (if that’s what it is) often gets misdiagnosed as cancer and he sees it happen 5-10 times a year. This is hopeful, miraculous news! Please keep staying positive that this is the case!"

Wednesday, the news was still looking up. Wickens said doctors believed Barretta had been misdiagnosed, but will still need care. She may be able to go home Friday if her lung function improves, Wickens said, and will need a home health aide for a while.

"The thoracic surgeon and oncologist have both confirmed today that Lisa was misdiagnosed!" Wickens wrote to supporters. "Based on her x-rays, symptoms and blood work which all indicated cancer in the lung; that is what we were originally told. However, while at Overlook [in Summit], a pulmonologist suggested that what was in her lung may be large abscess brought on by a serious case of pneumonia."

Barretta has taught at Tamaques Elementary, and more recently, Lincoln School.

The GoFundMe had raised $22,000 of $25,000 goal by Wednesday.

Wickens said that because of the donations, Lisa's rent and bills for June were paid.

The GoFundMe and more updates are here.

Don't miss Westfield breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with Westfield news. Sign up with your preferences here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.