Help Kim Fight Cancer

During an annual exam in February, Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy at the end of April and within the next six weeks she will begin radiation therapy.

We are raising money to help Kim and Jim pay for the radiation treatment option that will lower her risk of serious side effects - because insurance will not pay for it.

If you'd like more detail...when it comes to radiation, Kim has the option between innovative proton therapy (what her doctors recommend) and traditional photon therapy (what insurance will cover).

Photon therapy blasts an entire area and therefore carries short- and long-term side effects like heart disease and major heart events, lung scarring, and secondary cancers. I think we can all agree that this is not a risk Kim should take if she doesn't have to. But it's the cheaper therapy, so that is what insurance will help cover.

On the other hand, proton therapy allows for more precise radiation treatment, limiting damage to healthy tissue and protecting the heart and lungs. Kim's doctors are recommending this form of radiation. But because it is more expensive, insurance will not cover it.

It's hard for Kim to ask for help from her family and friends who have already been so generous and supportive over the years. But she knows that five years from now, she would be more likely to regret NOT asking than asking. And while her life isn't going to look quite like she thought it would, she wants to do all she can to prolong the longevity and maintain the quality of her life.

We know this is a tricky time for many people financially, so please do not feel pressured to give if you're not able to right now. We're sure that Kim knows you love and support her regardless of whether or not you're in a position to offer financial help. She loves you all!