Cathy's Medical Expenses

We are raising money for our dear friend Cathy Simone McKoy who is courageously battling Stage 4-1B fibroblastic sarcoma.  For those of us who know and love Cathy this effort to assist her in meeting the incredible medical expenses that she has incurred since her diagnosis in March 2014, is a no-brainer.  Cathy has lived her life for others.  No matter what anyone has ever needed Cathy has been there to provide it...without hesitation or concern about how helping others would affect her.  If you had a baby, she brought a home cooked meal for your family.  If you were sick, she came to visit you.  If you were running an event at church she volunteered to organize, bake a cake or do whatever you needed her to do.  She has always used her beautiful voice to bring glory to God.  But perhaps Cathy's way of "helping"  others is the way she invites you into her heart and into her life with incredible joy and gracious love, without judgment or expectation.  She is an amazing wife, mother, friend, neighbor and colleague.  And now our friend needs our prayerful and financial support. Cathy went undiagnosed for six months...traveling from doctor to doctor for an incredible pain in her hip and leg.  Finally in March she was comprehnsively evaluated and diagnosed with Stage 4 1-B fibroblastic sarcoma....in layman's terms...bone cancer.  The news was devastating.  And as if that wasn't enough, the doctor gently added that it had matasticized to the lung.  Treatment began almost immediately.  Since April, Cathy has undergone several different types of chemotherapy. Each has taken a toll on her body but thanks be to God we can claim small victories as there has been a reduction in the number of tumors in the lung as well as in the size of the tumor in the hip.  Further treatment and prognosis were questionable and so Cathy's knight in shining armor, her husband Jim, arranged for her to be evaluated  at MD Andersen Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas... internationally renowned for work with this type of cancer.  Side by side, with the most loving and genuine adherence to their marriage vows, Jim and Cathy traveled to MD Andresen  with the hope and faith that Our God had everything under control.  And He did!  Cathy was evaluated in June and the specialists agreed that she was a candidate for surgery.  What wonderful news!  Yet the journey would continue to be riddled with chemotherapy and constant bloodwork to monitor her immune system.  Prayers have been a constant source of strength and comfort to Cathy and Jim! Cathy's unbelievable sense of humor, her neverending hope and her positive outlook on life has reduced us all to tears throughout this journey.  She is courageoues, still concerned about others and never waivers from her faith.  Her children and grandchildren continue to bring her daily inspiration to keep fighting the fight.  And she does so with style and grace and believe it or not...with alot of laughter.  Cathy has humbly accepted this plate and all that is on it.  Friends..it is time for Cathy to be on the receiving end of the love and compassion that have governed her life. She is scheduled for a an internal hemi-pelvectomy without reconstruction of the hip in mid-August.  Cathy and Jim will head off to Texas once again where one of the top surgeons in the country will remove her cancer-ridden hip.  It will not be replaced as that increases the risk of infection and the possible need for additioal surgery.  Cathy will be in a body brace for 6 weeks and if all goes well ( for which we are counting on your prayers!) she will begin the process of physical rehabilitation soon after. She will have to re-learn how to walk with a leg that is significantly shorter than it was before.  Let's pray her through the surgery and the rehabilitation as she progresses from body brace to walker to cane.  As you can imagine...her positive attitude, her constant hope, the unbelieveable support of her husband, children, extended family and the team of medical experts are the key components of Cathy's journey of restoratoration to complete health; however we cannot ignore the cost factor.  With medical bills already totalling well into the hundreds of thousands, we are trying to do what we can to help Cathy and Jim meet some of those financial obligations.  Your donation will not only help Cathy and Jim pay their bills...but believe it or not..it will change the world. Cathy's presence in any room...at any event...in any conversation brings joy, hope and encouragement to those aroud her.  She is a hairdresser who breathes life and laughter into the lives of her customers.  She is a community member who assumes a leadership role in the annual Relay for Life and in the Women's Business Club of Marathon, Florida. She is an active parishoner in her church, San Pablo, and the list goes on and on.  Cathy McKoy spreads God's love to everyone in so many ways. Just click DONATE! and you can have a hand in changing the world for the better!  Thank you and keep praying!!!!