Paula is a 22-year-old young woman who has recently been diagnosed with leukemia — a diagnosis that has turned her world upside down in a matter of days. As she begins treatment, her medical team has determined that she must remain near Children’s Hospital in Denver for the first five weeks, making it impossible for her to return home to Steamboat Springs during this critical and fragile time.

This journey is not only physically demanding, but emotionally and spiritually overwhelming. A vital part of Paula’s treatment and healing is having the people she loves most nearby — family and close support who can sit with her through long days, pray with her, encourage her, and remind her she is not alone when the days feel heavy.

While Paula focuses on fighting this disease, the reality of staying near the hospital brings unexpected financial strain. Temporary housing, meals, transportation, basic daily needs, and medical expenses not fully covered by insurance quickly add up. Paula is currently unable to work, and the cost of simply being present for treatment has become an added burden no one ever anticipates.

This GoFundMe has been created by friends of the family to help carry that burden for her — to surround Paula with care, generosity, and support so she can concentrate on healing rather than worrying about finances.

Funds raised will be used to help support Paula’s essential living and medical needs, including:

   •   Temporary housing near Children’s Hospital

   •   Meals, groceries, and daily necessities

   •   Transportation to and from treatments

   •   Medical and out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance

All contributions are given as personal gifts of love and support, not as income or payment for services.

We believe God is walking with Paula through every step of this journey. Even in the uncertainty, we trust that He is near, faithful, and working in ways we cannot yet see. Your generosity allows Paula to be surrounded by those who love her most — offering comfort, strength, prayer, and hope during the hardest days.

Thank you for standing with Paula. Thank you for your prayers, your kindness, and your willingness to help lift this weight so she can focus on healing.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” — Isaiah 43:2

If you would rather give directly to her Venmo it is @paula-effinger