Kelly's Story
Donation protected
0n behalf of my daughter, Kelly, her mom, and our entire family, we extend our love and deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in Kelly's Go Fund Me program. Through your generosity, prayers, and positive thoughts, we have reached our fund raising goal. And, after almost two years, Kelly's health is improving.
We are so grateful for this miracle in Kelly's life, and for all of you.
May the love and support you have shown Kelly flow back into your lives a hundred fold. Thank you. John
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A brief medical update from Kelly:
The good news is the diseased tissue that metastasized deep into my pectoralis has not grown. Unfortunately, it has not shrunk either and at this time cannot be surgically removed. Although dealing with the physical and emotional pain of a cancer that does not respond to treatment is grueling, there is a rainbow surging through the dark clouds. That rainbow is you. The kindness, healing prayers and thoughts, and generosity I have received during this past 13 months is amazing. My faith and my rainbow uplift me daily. I cannot find the words to sufficiently express the gratitude I feel… Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To everyone who has read my story, sent prayers and love, and donated to this life saving fund, I thank you from the depths of my being. My body is severely compromised by this painful cancer, but my heart has grown in gratitude and thanksgiving for all who have cared and shared in some beautiful form. Many of you I don’t even know in person, but your kindness and generosity have expanded me beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you all for being an integral, soul-moving part of my journey and giving me the experience of how profoundly I am not alone. I am humbled.
Medically my battle continues. In spite of the heavy-duty drugs I am taking, my cancer appears to be further metastasizing. My cancer markers are up, and the intense pain I had before diagnosis is back. It’s a protracted journey, but I am strong. With the help of God, my medical team, and everyone who has touched my life, I absolutely trust that I will find a way to kick cancer’s butt.
Thank you for sharing my story. Thank you for your continued support in any way that is right for you. Thank you for you.
Blessings always… Kelly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend and donor to Kelly’s GoFundMe campaign shared this post with her Friends and we’d like to share it with you!
"I am asking for a friend who is fighting a valiant fight against breast cancer and a myriad of related challenges. If you've been blessed with a little extra or are willing to give up a latte/cocktail/splurge, perhaps you will consider helping Kelly with her expenses. Think of it as a deposit in your bank of karma...and thank you. "
MY URGENT BATTLE WITH RELENTLESS INVASIVE BREAST CANCER
My name is Kelly VanEck I wish I didn’t need help right now, but I do, and my need is imminent.
On May 24, 2018 I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. My cancer does not respond to traditional chemo. It is relentless. Complications have resulted in my having five non-reconstructive surgeries in four months plus extensive and very expensive testing, radiation, and alternate treatments which my doctors have ordered.
There is no bottom line answer for the kind of invasive breast cancer that I have. I will be in continuous treatment for at least 5 years, and complications from that treatment have already affected my body, resulting in additional surgeries. Lousy insurance, which has put me in a position to have to fight to get approval for things like diagnostic CT scans and infusions that can save my life, makes everything even more devastating. I have been turned down for essential procedures at the admitting desk of a lab or hospital because I did not have the cash. That’s almost as scary as the cancer.
Unfortunately, my husband and I find ourselves caught in the black hole between making too much money to qualify for Medicaid or any of the foundations that give assistance to cancer patients, and not making enough money to afford good insurance. The only way I could qualify would be if I quit my job which would make financial and emotional pressures worse.
I must have the infusions, MRIs, and daily medication in order to live, but I am dealing with horrible insurance which will soon require another massive deductible to pay the parts it does pay. I do not have it. The uncovered expenses are overwhelming.
My family and I have exhausted every financial resource we have, and yet my need for life saving treatment is far from over. Without the funds for those treatments and better health insurance I will not survive.
My mom had cancer twice, so I was meticulous about staying current with medical exams. I started having pain on the left side of my chest about 2 years ago. The doctors couldn’t find any reason for it even though the pain continued and started to escalate. And then along came Hank, my rescue cat. Hank had been abused so the first many months that he lived with us were all about helping him feel safe. He became more secure, confident, and actually cuddly. He began to come up on the bed at night and snuggle with me. Shortly thereafter he started to do something odd. He would gently paw at my left breast and then simply lay his head on it and fall asleep. He never tried to sleep on any other part of my body, yet he repeated this action nightly. It took a while, before I finally had an epiphany! I had heard, but never seen, that animals can detect cancer. Suddenly I realized that I had spent months trying to talk myself out of something that I knew deep inside of me, but was too afraid to face. I went back into the medical community and said something is wrong. Please help me find what it is. They finally found it but the cancer had already metastasized.
And that’s how Hank, this beautiful little gift from God, who had been cruelly used and abused in his early years, and somehow managed to live, made sure that I would have a chance to survive this rogue cancer.
What’s Next
My cancer does not respond to traditional chemo. So I’m on the five year plan. My first surgery for this illness was June 8, 2018. My fifth surgery was four months later on October 9, 2018. I will be having infusions every month for the next 5 years along with accompanying MRIs, lab work, and other medications. Hopefully, research will create greater breakthroughs during this time.
Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and being willing to share it. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts. And, if it works for you, I thank you for your donations. All of them will go toward medical expenses. I promise you I will spend the rest of my life paying your kindness and generosity forward. I am forever grateful.
This is where I was physically and energetically, this is where I have faith I will be again. #iamHOPE
We are so grateful for this miracle in Kelly's life, and for all of you.
May the love and support you have shown Kelly flow back into your lives a hundred fold. Thank you. John
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A brief medical update from Kelly:
The good news is the diseased tissue that metastasized deep into my pectoralis has not grown. Unfortunately, it has not shrunk either and at this time cannot be surgically removed. Although dealing with the physical and emotional pain of a cancer that does not respond to treatment is grueling, there is a rainbow surging through the dark clouds. That rainbow is you. The kindness, healing prayers and thoughts, and generosity I have received during this past 13 months is amazing. My faith and my rainbow uplift me daily. I cannot find the words to sufficiently express the gratitude I feel… Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To everyone who has read my story, sent prayers and love, and donated to this life saving fund, I thank you from the depths of my being. My body is severely compromised by this painful cancer, but my heart has grown in gratitude and thanksgiving for all who have cared and shared in some beautiful form. Many of you I don’t even know in person, but your kindness and generosity have expanded me beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you all for being an integral, soul-moving part of my journey and giving me the experience of how profoundly I am not alone. I am humbled.
Medically my battle continues. In spite of the heavy-duty drugs I am taking, my cancer appears to be further metastasizing. My cancer markers are up, and the intense pain I had before diagnosis is back. It’s a protracted journey, but I am strong. With the help of God, my medical team, and everyone who has touched my life, I absolutely trust that I will find a way to kick cancer’s butt.
Thank you for sharing my story. Thank you for your continued support in any way that is right for you. Thank you for you.
Blessings always… Kelly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend and donor to Kelly’s GoFundMe campaign shared this post with her Friends and we’d like to share it with you!
"I am asking for a friend who is fighting a valiant fight against breast cancer and a myriad of related challenges. If you've been blessed with a little extra or are willing to give up a latte/cocktail/splurge, perhaps you will consider helping Kelly with her expenses. Think of it as a deposit in your bank of karma...and thank you. "
MY URGENT BATTLE WITH RELENTLESS INVASIVE BREAST CANCER
My name is Kelly VanEck I wish I didn’t need help right now, but I do, and my need is imminent.
On May 24, 2018 I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. My cancer does not respond to traditional chemo. It is relentless. Complications have resulted in my having five non-reconstructive surgeries in four months plus extensive and very expensive testing, radiation, and alternate treatments which my doctors have ordered.
There is no bottom line answer for the kind of invasive breast cancer that I have. I will be in continuous treatment for at least 5 years, and complications from that treatment have already affected my body, resulting in additional surgeries. Lousy insurance, which has put me in a position to have to fight to get approval for things like diagnostic CT scans and infusions that can save my life, makes everything even more devastating. I have been turned down for essential procedures at the admitting desk of a lab or hospital because I did not have the cash. That’s almost as scary as the cancer.
Unfortunately, my husband and I find ourselves caught in the black hole between making too much money to qualify for Medicaid or any of the foundations that give assistance to cancer patients, and not making enough money to afford good insurance. The only way I could qualify would be if I quit my job which would make financial and emotional pressures worse.
I must have the infusions, MRIs, and daily medication in order to live, but I am dealing with horrible insurance which will soon require another massive deductible to pay the parts it does pay. I do not have it. The uncovered expenses are overwhelming.
My family and I have exhausted every financial resource we have, and yet my need for life saving treatment is far from over. Without the funds for those treatments and better health insurance I will not survive.
My mom had cancer twice, so I was meticulous about staying current with medical exams. I started having pain on the left side of my chest about 2 years ago. The doctors couldn’t find any reason for it even though the pain continued and started to escalate. And then along came Hank, my rescue cat. Hank had been abused so the first many months that he lived with us were all about helping him feel safe. He became more secure, confident, and actually cuddly. He began to come up on the bed at night and snuggle with me. Shortly thereafter he started to do something odd. He would gently paw at my left breast and then simply lay his head on it and fall asleep. He never tried to sleep on any other part of my body, yet he repeated this action nightly. It took a while, before I finally had an epiphany! I had heard, but never seen, that animals can detect cancer. Suddenly I realized that I had spent months trying to talk myself out of something that I knew deep inside of me, but was too afraid to face. I went back into the medical community and said something is wrong. Please help me find what it is. They finally found it but the cancer had already metastasized.
And that’s how Hank, this beautiful little gift from God, who had been cruelly used and abused in his early years, and somehow managed to live, made sure that I would have a chance to survive this rogue cancer.
What’s Next
My cancer does not respond to traditional chemo. So I’m on the five year plan. My first surgery for this illness was June 8, 2018. My fifth surgery was four months later on October 9, 2018. I will be having infusions every month for the next 5 years along with accompanying MRIs, lab work, and other medications. Hopefully, research will create greater breakthroughs during this time.
Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and being willing to share it. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts. And, if it works for you, I thank you for your donations. All of them will go toward medical expenses. I promise you I will spend the rest of my life paying your kindness and generosity forward. I am forever grateful.
This is where I was physically and energetically, this is where I have faith I will be again. #iamHOPEOrganizer
John Brewer
Organizer
Olympia, WA
