Support Kim and Her Battle with Cancer
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[Kim's almost 1 YEAR UPDATE]
It’s been almost ONE YEAR since Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer that metastasized from the breast cancer Kim had 7 years earlier. Last week she received more devastating news; Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer that had also metastasized from the breast cancer. This is quite uncommon, as breast cancer typically doesn’t travel to the stomach lining and bowels. And it needs to be treated differently. For now, the bone cancer treatments are on hold, and it is full speed ahead with the stomach cancer treatments. The past year Kim has faced many challenges. The process of trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t and how to treat her cancer, in addition to the new world of COVID it has been a long process that has included many doctor visits, a lot of pain, pokes, scans, appointments, lots of fluids and labs. All of this while trying to continue to work to hold on to insurance benefits.
And it certainly hasn’t been easy fighting off the severe abdominal pain, with nausea and vomiting the past 3 months! Kim is fighting a battle each day. Her esophagus and stomach are unable to handle anything right now so she has been limited to a liquid diet until her insides can heal. This week includes a procedure to have the port placed, final scans taken, fluids given, and time to prepare her body and mind for her first chemo treatment on Friday. The plan is to have chemo every other week. Her Avera Care Team is amazing and consist of not only the oncologist, but a case manager, a dietician, pharmacist, palliative care, schedulers, and of course, her family of co-workers on 1 EAST!! Her face lights up when she sees her Avera family. Last year GoFundMe helped the family tremendously when Kim was unable to work and going through treatment. Throughout the past year, those funds have been depleted and many have asked me how they can help Kim and her family.
The monetary donations from GoFundMe will help Kim pay rent, utilities, her car payment, special diet needs, medical expenses and basic necessities. The long term goal is to be able to pay off the money owed on her car so she will not have a car payment. At this time she does not receive any assistance and we continue to apply and look for other options for assistance as Kim starts bi-weekly chemo infusions to fight cancer for a third time this week. Kim truly appreciates each and every card, prayer, note of encouragement, phone call, ride, gift card and donation. Thank you!
June 28, 2020
Kim, with tear-filled eyes, reluctantly nodded it was okay I set up a Go Fund Me account for her and her family. I could see the pain and hurt on her face, not from the bone cancer she had recently been diagnosed with, but from having to accept financial help from others.
Kim is a single mom of three kids. Her oldest son is 25, middle son is 21, and her youngest she calls her "baby girl" is 17 years old and a senior in high school.
BACKGROUND
Kim grew up and was raising her own family in New Orleans. In 2005, with 3 small children and working at a local hospital Hurricane Katrina hit. After losing everything, she found herself in a FEMA trailer. Shortly after, the hospital called and she was told she lost her job. She was now with no home, no job and 3 children to support. After talking to the Red Cross she took a leap of faith. They matched her up with a church from Luverne, MN who came to New Orleans and brought her family to Minnesota to start a new life.
With Brandon, SD, now her home, a good job and great friends at the hospital she worked at, life would AGAIN throw her a curve ball. In 2013, Kim was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.
Kim battled Breast Cancer with the help of her co-workers. They assisted with transportation, appointments, and meals since Kim's family is her work family. Her kids were 18, 14, and 10 at the time.
PRESENT
This past summer, Kim was experiencing tremendous pain. She had pain in her hip and back and it became more and more difficult to walk and climb stairs. She went to several doctor appointments but no explanations could be found as to why she was in so much pain.
On July 7, 2020, Kim was diagnosed with bone cancer. In the past 5 weeks, many tests, CT scans, and MRI's have been done. After a recent MRI scan the doctor called Kim and said to go immediately to the ER Department because an upper vertebrae had a fracture in it. During this hospital stay, more information was learned regarding her condition. The breast cancer had metastasized in the hip, spine and sternum. We know there is a large "hole" in her hip and several spinal cancer spots with some erosion occurring. For now, radiation will be the treatment plan.
COSTS
Medical care alone is expensive and this is a one parent household. Unfortunately, Kim will only be receiving disability, which is only a portion of her paycheck. She has two kids living at home who will be helping out to not only take care of her, but also working and going to school. However, the middle son has decided it is best to take this semester off. Kim's daughter is a high school senior. Rent, utilities, groceries, and living expenses add up. In addition, the family shares transportation, and this week one car blew a head gasket so they are borrowing a car while the car is being repaired for roughly $2,000.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Kim is a strong woman who has overcome many life challenges, more than most. She has raised her kids to be strong, independent, hardworking, and appreciative. Please pray for her family and consider donating to help lift the financial burden from her kids. Any amount is greatly appreciated from the family.
PERSONAL NOTE
I have always admired Kim's quick wit, accent (I love it when she says, "I love you honey"), and big hugs. You can not help but smile when you see her because she is guaranteed to say something that will make you smile. She is one of those people that you don't forget when you meet her. I asked her one time how she wound up in MN from New Orleans? After sharing her Katrina catastrophe and she told me the Red Cross said she could pick from a few states and asked her where she wanted to go. She says, " My first choice was MN because PRINCE is from there." I just busted out laughing and from then on when we rode to basketball games or heard a Prince song we started dancing immediately.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, and donations. Please help get the word out by sharing the link on your social media sites.
It’s been almost ONE YEAR since Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer that metastasized from the breast cancer Kim had 7 years earlier. Last week she received more devastating news; Kim was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer that had also metastasized from the breast cancer. This is quite uncommon, as breast cancer typically doesn’t travel to the stomach lining and bowels. And it needs to be treated differently. For now, the bone cancer treatments are on hold, and it is full speed ahead with the stomach cancer treatments. The past year Kim has faced many challenges. The process of trying to figure out what works, what doesn’t and how to treat her cancer, in addition to the new world of COVID it has been a long process that has included many doctor visits, a lot of pain, pokes, scans, appointments, lots of fluids and labs. All of this while trying to continue to work to hold on to insurance benefits.
And it certainly hasn’t been easy fighting off the severe abdominal pain, with nausea and vomiting the past 3 months! Kim is fighting a battle each day. Her esophagus and stomach are unable to handle anything right now so she has been limited to a liquid diet until her insides can heal. This week includes a procedure to have the port placed, final scans taken, fluids given, and time to prepare her body and mind for her first chemo treatment on Friday. The plan is to have chemo every other week. Her Avera Care Team is amazing and consist of not only the oncologist, but a case manager, a dietician, pharmacist, palliative care, schedulers, and of course, her family of co-workers on 1 EAST!! Her face lights up when she sees her Avera family. Last year GoFundMe helped the family tremendously when Kim was unable to work and going through treatment. Throughout the past year, those funds have been depleted and many have asked me how they can help Kim and her family.
The monetary donations from GoFundMe will help Kim pay rent, utilities, her car payment, special diet needs, medical expenses and basic necessities. The long term goal is to be able to pay off the money owed on her car so she will not have a car payment. At this time she does not receive any assistance and we continue to apply and look for other options for assistance as Kim starts bi-weekly chemo infusions to fight cancer for a third time this week. Kim truly appreciates each and every card, prayer, note of encouragement, phone call, ride, gift card and donation. Thank you!
June 28, 2020
Kim, with tear-filled eyes, reluctantly nodded it was okay I set up a Go Fund Me account for her and her family. I could see the pain and hurt on her face, not from the bone cancer she had recently been diagnosed with, but from having to accept financial help from others.
Kim is a single mom of three kids. Her oldest son is 25, middle son is 21, and her youngest she calls her "baby girl" is 17 years old and a senior in high school.
BACKGROUND
Kim grew up and was raising her own family in New Orleans. In 2005, with 3 small children and working at a local hospital Hurricane Katrina hit. After losing everything, she found herself in a FEMA trailer. Shortly after, the hospital called and she was told she lost her job. She was now with no home, no job and 3 children to support. After talking to the Red Cross she took a leap of faith. They matched her up with a church from Luverne, MN who came to New Orleans and brought her family to Minnesota to start a new life.
With Brandon, SD, now her home, a good job and great friends at the hospital she worked at, life would AGAIN throw her a curve ball. In 2013, Kim was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.
Kim battled Breast Cancer with the help of her co-workers. They assisted with transportation, appointments, and meals since Kim's family is her work family. Her kids were 18, 14, and 10 at the time.
PRESENT
This past summer, Kim was experiencing tremendous pain. She had pain in her hip and back and it became more and more difficult to walk and climb stairs. She went to several doctor appointments but no explanations could be found as to why she was in so much pain.
On July 7, 2020, Kim was diagnosed with bone cancer. In the past 5 weeks, many tests, CT scans, and MRI's have been done. After a recent MRI scan the doctor called Kim and said to go immediately to the ER Department because an upper vertebrae had a fracture in it. During this hospital stay, more information was learned regarding her condition. The breast cancer had metastasized in the hip, spine and sternum. We know there is a large "hole" in her hip and several spinal cancer spots with some erosion occurring. For now, radiation will be the treatment plan.
COSTS
Medical care alone is expensive and this is a one parent household. Unfortunately, Kim will only be receiving disability, which is only a portion of her paycheck. She has two kids living at home who will be helping out to not only take care of her, but also working and going to school. However, the middle son has decided it is best to take this semester off. Kim's daughter is a high school senior. Rent, utilities, groceries, and living expenses add up. In addition, the family shares transportation, and this week one car blew a head gasket so they are borrowing a car while the car is being repaired for roughly $2,000.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Kim is a strong woman who has overcome many life challenges, more than most. She has raised her kids to be strong, independent, hardworking, and appreciative. Please pray for her family and consider donating to help lift the financial burden from her kids. Any amount is greatly appreciated from the family.
PERSONAL NOTE
I have always admired Kim's quick wit, accent (I love it when she says, "I love you honey"), and big hugs. You can not help but smile when you see her because she is guaranteed to say something that will make you smile. She is one of those people that you don't forget when you meet her. I asked her one time how she wound up in MN from New Orleans? After sharing her Katrina catastrophe and she told me the Red Cross said she could pick from a few states and asked her where she wanted to go. She says, " My first choice was MN because PRINCE is from there." I just busted out laughing and from then on when we rode to basketball games or heard a Prince song we started dancing immediately.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, texts, emails, and donations. Please help get the word out by sharing the link on your social media sites.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sheila Qualseth Finch
Organizer
Brandon, SD
Kim Jones
Beneficiary
