Hello friends and family,

My name is Lisa, I am organizing this fundraiser for my dear friend Heidi Gwaltney. We've been best friends for the last 37 years. For as long as I've known Heidi she has always gone out of her way to support and help others. Now Heidi requires help and support but she is not the type of person to ask for help. This is why I am creating this fundraiser for her. All donations received from this fundraiser will be used to help pay for Heid's alternative cancer treatment in Mexico.

Heidi was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2013 which resulted in a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. During chemo treatment, Heidi experienced a severe allergic reaction that ruled out chemotherapy as a feasible treatment option moving forward. As a result of the reaction, she gained 30 pounds of fluids that surrounded and negatively affected her heart. Her oncologist said that had never seen this type of reaction before.

In 2018, Heidi's cancer returned, this time in her spine and is now at stage 4. During appointments, Heidi learned her back was 40% fractured and there is little to no treatment for bone cancer. Due to the allergic reaction to chemo and radiation, Heidi needed to find an alternative treatment. Heidi attended The Immunity Therapy Center Center in Tijuana, Mexico in May of 2022 because her tumor markers were rising and she had an immense amount of pain in her leg and spine. After three weeks of treatment, Heidi's tumor marker numbers went from 138 down to 85. Ideally, the oncologist needs her numbers below 38.

After Heidi attended the treatment center, her pain was minimal. ITC offers a MCA procedure (mononuclear cell activation) which is used to activate stem, dendritic, natural killer and mesenchymal cells for a strong and specific immune stimulation against cancer cells. Heidi had the MCA procedure in May and September of 2022 and this helped keep her numbers low. This treatment is $3,800 per procedure and does not include travel, meals and lodging. Heidi is scheduled to have an MCA procedure the first week of September 2023. The benefits of this procedure can last for up to 8 months but vary by case. Heidi wished she could've stayed longer during her last visit but knew the cost of the treatment was an issue.

In April 2023, Heidi began battling an infection in her spine. It's a form of tuberculosis commonly referred to as Pott's Disease, which is an extrapulmonary form of TB caused by Mycobacterium TB. Heidi is still fighting this infection. Throughout the infection, she's experienced weakness in her legs, trouble walking, restlessness, lifting, and carrying weight. All of these symptoms made it incredibly difficult for her to continue working.

In late July, Heidi's bone marker numbers went from 300 to 596 and tumor markers rose from 144 to now 492. Her numbers are doubling and tripling and need to decrease. Heid's care team at ITC has developed a plan for her to attend the center for 8 weeks. After that period, the oncologist will evaluate her progress and determine how often Heidi will need to return for future treatment. Individuals in these same situations typically return a couple of times a year after their numbers have stabilized.

Heidi has already experienced some relief while she's been attending ITC for the last week. While attending, Heidi has access to numerous alternative treatment methods including bioemotional balance therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV B17 treatments (a daily requirement), pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, stem cell therapy and more. A critical element of Heidi's treatment plan involves a heavy focus on a clean, low-glycemic diet while nourishing the body with healthy fats and lean meat.

The cost of this treatment program is $24,300 per month which does not include her lodging cost of $3800 per month, travel or food. Due to the treatments being in Mexico, insurance does not cover any of these costs. Heidi and her family have been paying for all treatments out of pocket. We're asking for donations to help with the cost of treatment. The goal of these fundraising efforts is to provide financial coverage for Heidi to attend the alternative treatment program for 2 months. Any donation would go a long way in alleviating stress from Heidi so she can focus on her healing and recovery. Please feel free to share this page with your family and friends on social media. Prayers are also greatly appreciated!

Please be sure to check back to this page for additional updates.

If you would like additional information or would like to provide non-financial support, please reach out through this page.

Thank you and God bless!

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you. -2 Kings 20:5

In addition to this fundraiser, there is a benefit concert being held for Heidi on 9/16/23 at 7:30 pm in Greenville, TX at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. If you're interested in attending, tickets are available for purchase here.

More information on the Immunity Therapy Center and their available alternative treatment programs can be found on their website: ITC - Immunity Treatment Center