Continuing the Legacy of Compassion
The Sky Support Circle was created in the spirit of our founder, Sheila Sky Kasselman, who built Sky Foundation on one simple but powerful belief — that no one facing pancreatic cancer should ever feel alone.
When patients or families reached out, Sheila personally answered their calls. She shared honest, heartfelt advice drawn from her own experience as a survivor and advocate. She offered direction on the patient side of things — how to manage chemo treatments, what to expect during recovery, and how to find emotional stability through an incredibly difficult journey.
Sheila also connected patients directly to her network of trusted specialists, providing personal referrals to Michigan’s leading hospital systems and oncologists — helping families find the right medical team quickly when time mattered most. Her dedication, compassion, and hands-on support inspired this program that continues her work today.
Meet Our Sky Advocates
Our Sky Advocates are the heart of the Support Circle — volunteers and survivors who carry on Sheila’s mission by offering:
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One-on-one guidance and emotional support
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Personal connections to hospitals, programs, and specialists
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Insight from lived experiences with pancreatic cancer
Each advocate is trained to listen, guide, and connect — helping patients, survivors, and caregivers find the right resources, second opinions, and emotional grounding as they navigate this journey.
🩺 Patient & Caregiver Resources
We’ve created an easy-to-navigate library of tools and links designed to support every step of your journey:
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or looking for specific programs, this section includes everything from treatment FAQs to local and national support services.
Clinical Trials Navigation
Sky Foundation is proud to collaborate with TriCan Health, a platform that simplifies finding and enrolling in pancreatic cancer clinical trials.
Our upcoming “How to Use TriCan” video will walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to search, filter, and connect with ongoing trials near you — empowering you to explore every treatment option available.
🌅 Life After Whipple Series
For many survivors, life after the Whipple surgery looks very different — physically, emotionally, and nutritionally.
Our Life After Whipple Series brings together experts, surgeons, and survivors to discuss practical guidance for post-surgery life, including digestive changes, nutrition tips, emotional recovery, and rebuilding quality of life.
Watch the Life After Whipple Series
🛣️ The Road of Support
No one walks this road alone.
Our Road of Support pamphlet features trusted nonprofit partners that provide financial assistance, emotional care, and community programs for patients and caregivers.
