Update : November 10th

Debby was admitted into the hospital for a rupture in her stomach. Due to how sick she had gotten from her first round of chemo, Debby did not qualify for surgery, as she would not have survived it . Debby was limited to options for treatment. She is too sick to continue the rest of the chemo treatment. Debby is now in a hospice house in Whatcom County to finish the race.

Update 31 October, 2025

I want to thank you all for the donations we have received to date.

Today I had my first chemo treatment. My sister Kat came to get me at 7:30 AM. I was so worried about the treatment that I didn't get to sleep until after 3AM. Needless to say, I was still sleeping when she got here. So I had to rush around like a crazy person to get to the cancer center on time!

When we arrived, Val, the nurse in charge of me for the course of today's treatment, got me all set up in the big, comfy reclining chair while she explained each med they were pushing into my port.

Kat and I chatted for the first hour. Then I slept hard for @ 3 hours.

Then Ronna, my best friend for life, came to be with me for the last few hours of todays treatment and to take me home and sit with me until Brian got home from work.

Kathy and Ronna have both been so helpful since I was first diagnosed. They both lost their husbands to cancer fairly recently. They have both been sharing their knowledge and time with me; as well as taking me to and from all my appointments.

I have been totally blessed with amazing family and friends. My brother Jerry and my nephew Logan spent 3 evenings installing a new shower in the second bathroom. Since Brian and I can't share bathrooms because he can't be exposed to the chemo meds my body is now constantly shedding.

Also, the pain from the cancer is no joke and the doctors are adamant that I gain weight.

So, until Brian gets home from work, someone is at my house all day to make sure I'm eating well, staying positive and taking my meds. So all my family are helping as much as they can.

Since I cannot work anymore the cost of the meds and the cancer treatments are continuing to stretch Brian and I very thin financially. It is very difficult for me to ask for money. Anyone who knows me; knows that I am a giver, not a taker. But right now I need to be the one asking for help. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Update October 24, 2025

First I want to thank everyone who has donated to help my cause. You have no idea how much I appreciate each and every donation! With the donations I have received to date we have been able to cover October bills and meds.

Interesting fact... with the chemo I will be getting my husband and I can't share a bathroom. So we had to install a shower in our second bathroom so Brian doesn't have to shower outside with a garden hose! Without your donations we couldn't have done that.

Next week I will be having a port put in so I can get my chemo treatments. My oncologist said that I have an extremely aggressive cancer, so the treatment has to be extremely aggressive.

My first chemo treatment is on 31 October. I'll be in the infusion chair for 6 hours. Then I will be sent home with an infusion pump that will infuse more meds into my body for an additional 48 hours.

They call that a cycle.

We will repeat the cycle every 2 weeks. So my 2nd cycle will start on 14 November. As long as my body can tolerate the meds; they want to do 12 cycles.

The good news is I am strong! More good news is that I am positive! I know my odds are less than 5%. But that is OK... I will keep smiling and push through!

ORIGINAL POST

my name is Debby and I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has metastasized to my liver. I was also diagnosed with esophageal dysmotility, which means I can only eat a liquid/soft food diet for the rest of my life.

Due to my diagnosis, I can no longer work. The cost of the drugs, chemo treatments, and household bills is overwhelming. I really don't know what to do. We can't survive on just my husband's income. At this point, we will probably lose our home.

The thought of being homeless at a time like this is very scary.

My whole life, when something bad happened, I always pulled myself up by my own bootstraps. No matter what, I figured things out. This time I can't. I am too sick, and my husband already works as hard as he can. We need help.

I was given 6 months to live if I do nothing. With aggressive chemotherapy, maybe 2 or 3 years. I don't want to live homeless on the streets or in a shelter for the last years of my life.

I have always lived my life by the golden rule; always treating everyone like I want to be treated myself. Trying always to do the right thing, even if it's hard to do. Always pulling myself up by my own bootstraps.

After COVID killed my 20-year-old business, I became a Home Health Aide, helping to take care of seniors in their own homes. I did that for 4 years. It was a job that gave me a lot of joy. I feel very strongly that I gave my patients joy as well.

Now I can no longer do that. I have worked full-time since 1972. No breaks, no unemployment. Including 8 years of active duty Army, 20 plus years co-owning a product development company. We invented kitchenware and BBQ accessories. We owned over 60 patents. But that business went under immediately after COVID hit.

I'm between a rock and a hard place and I need real financial help. If you can find it in your heart to help me, I will be eternally grateful.