Our friend, Erin Schmit, was diagnosed with intrahepatic bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) in October 2020 after a mass was discovered in her liver during an emergency appendectomy. This is a rare cancer of the bile duct that carries with it an average prognosis of less than 5 years, even with treatment. Since diagnosis, she has gone through several treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, Y90 radiation treatments, and holistic therapy. Throughout this entire journey, she has remained brave and positive. She has done an extensive amount of research into her type of cancer and alternative treatment options.

In April 2023, a CT scan followed by an MRI at a later date showed that the cancer has progressed with the tumor now growing through her right portal vein. Statistically, this worsens her prognosis significantly. But Erin is not giving up. While surgery is not an option, she once again dove into research and found an alternative option.

Erin was accepted as a patient at the San Diego Clinic. They provide personalized immuno-vaccines built off your own blood. She will begin treatment at this clinic at the end of June. Unfortunately, medical insurance does not cover this type of therapy. This is why we, her friends and family, have come together to help raise funds to pay for this treatment. This treatment costs $7,000 per week for 5 weeks total. This does not include the cost of travel to the facility or accommodations for the 5 week stay. All together, it is estimated that this treatment will cost $40,000.

Erin has been a ray of light and a shoulder to lean on for so many of us, we want to do whatever we can to help her. You can go to the comment section and see individual stories on how Erin has touched each of our lives and made them better, simply by being who she is.

Whatever you can give will help and we are so thankful for all of you!