Cancer emergency, help if you can

Hi, my name is Kelda, and my sister is Anja Urner. She's experiencing a health emergency, and I'm trying to help in any way I can. Since I'm currently living in Massachusetts and she's in Louisiana, the best way I can think of is to help cover some living expenses while she goes through treatment. Although she may have a longer recovery or more costs with future treatments, my first goal is to get her, her husband, and 2 "fur babies" through a month financially so her husband, John, is free to be with her in the hospital supporting her. The nearest hospital that can treat her is 81 miles from their house (and cats).

Background: First, I want to say that Anja is an incredible human being. She's the best big sister I could ask for. Anja selflessly moved from her beloved home and land in Tennessee to care for her mother-in-law and father-in-law, following Katrina when they were in crisis. She provided live-in round-the-clock care to remain in their home - together and safe. Recently, Maggie and Doc passed away. Anja and John had their first chance to take care of each other and their cats (who she calls their fur-babies), and they've genuinely blossomed in their new space. Anja started making her own vanilla and other extracts (she's a trained pastry chef). She was looking forward to finishing the move from her in-law's old house to their new place in Franklinton when she noticed an odd, unhealing sore on her stomach in November and figured it was from moving large boxes.

The sore progressively worsened. It was misdiagnosed, stumped many doctors and wound care specialists, and led to several hospital visits. Anja was finally correctly diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum and was looking forward to getting treatment so she could plant her seedlings and finish settling in their new place. But tragically, during her current hospital stay, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in addition to the unhealing pyoderma gangrenosum, which now covers most of her abdomen.

There's a lot we don't know since she just received the diagnosis this morning. She's undergoing a full-body scan today in hopes of detecting any other areas of concern. She'll definitely need surgery to remove the immediate area of cancer and determine the stage and immediate area of spread, if any. Hopefully, her skin sore will finally heal after the cancer is treated. Still, if not, she will need a longer hospital stay to prevent secondary complications and provide treatment under close monitoring (as a diabetic, she would need monitoring for this treatment even without a cancer diagnosis since the only known option is a course of strong steroids). Even with all this going on, Anja has a remarkably positive attitude. On my best day, I'm crankier than her with a spreading open sore (for the past 6-7 months) and cancer diagnosis. I don't know how she does it.

John has been Anja's rock through all this. He drives however long he needs to do his job, bring her whatever she needs from home, keep her company, handle all the daily responsibilities and bills, and take care of their cats. But he's maxed out his PTO and needs to be with her more than ever without worrying about losing their new place or not being able to afford gas, cat food, medications, etc.

The funds will be used to pay living expenses - house and storage payment, car insurance, groceries, gasoline, electricity, cat food/litter, medical insurance, and medication expenses (which, alone, cost about $300/month). Right now, I want to be able to get them through a month without having to worry about finances. I can provide itemized bills if anyone needs them, but altogether with commuting to Ochsner on Jefferson Hwy, my goal is $5000.

Anja has been there for me in all my endeavors in life. She's like another mother to me and stepped in without batting an eye to help with my son so I could continue working. She and I will be eternally grateful if you can donate any amount. I will update as more information becomes available on her course of treatment. Thank you all so much!

-Kelda