Stop me if you’ve heard this one: person has to reconsider life-saving surgery due to the cost.

Oh, you have? Well, unfortunately for you, we’re replaying a beat-up copy of “The U.S. Healthcare System’s Greatest Hits.”

Back in April, Elizabeth (yes, that Elizabeth) and her husband found out he has cancer. If you don’t know who she is, let me tell you:

Elizabeth escaped horrific domestic violence in 2012 with her mini-me, Chloe. In 2013, she married Derek and they’ve been married and raising a family ever since. They rescue cats year-round, and prior to her job ending, often spend hundreds from their own pockets to nurse them back to health.

Derek is the type of guy who bottle feeds orphaned kittens. (I’ve seen him do it!) He looks up what type of birdseed is the best for the birds in the backyard- lest he inadvertently get them sick. They have a lamed turkey that Derek personally feeds, lest the poor thing starve. He also has a standing breakfast date every other Thursday with Chloe, and sneaks her ice cream when he thinks Elizabeth isn’t looking. He is truly a kind, caring, selfless human being. I know cancer doesn’t discriminate, but it picked someone who really, really doesn’t deserve it.

Elizabeth has been my best friend for nearly 20 years, and she’s been there through some of the darkest times of my life. She’s driven halfway across the country to care for her ailing mother-in-law, despite her mother-in-law not particularly caring for her. Elizabeth is just that person: she drove across the country to rural Texas to help a woman who doesn’t even like her — in a house with no air conditioning, putting her own health at risk, to wipe a old woman’s bottom!

Because of the cancer, Elizabeth’s husband of 11 years needs surgery to live, and the surgeon who specializes in this is in Seattle. In order to afford the surgery, they need about $1,400 just for the initial copay. That’s just for the surgery- that doesn’t include travel expenses or follow up care costs. In total, we’re looking at around $2,500.

Derek can’t even take more than two days off because it’s unpaid. Elizabeth is on a specialized educational grant, which provides some income but it’s less than $1,000 a month. If she returns to work, she loses her grant, her medical insurance (which she desperately needs as an epileptic), and their food stamps, which is their primary means of food.

In addition to reducing everyday expenses, Elizabeth has been reduced to selling plasma at $40 a pop, as well as personal possessions, in the hopes that she and Derek will have enough money by September. I don’t like that at all, and I want to do something about it, hence this GoFundMe. Elizabeth has been going to school full time, while also caring for Derek because he simply doesn’t have the energy right now, raising Chloe, and running a household; the last thing she needs to be doing during such a trying time is selling plasma. (Should come as no shock that her specialty is trauma- she wants to heal those who need it most. God I love this woman!)

Folks, Elizabeth and Derek are scared beyond measure. Derek is the wonderful father to Chloe that Elizabeth’s abusive ex never wanted to be. Derek has made my friend happier than I’ve ever seen her. I know she would take the cancer and put it in her if she could, so they wouldn’t be reduced to Elizabeth selling her plasma just to afford a copay and travel expenses.

I know I’ve asked for help for me in the past, and you’ve all been amazing. This time, I’m asking for Elizabeth. If you can spare a buck, please do.

Even if the copay is met, Derek will need follow up care. This means more trips to Seattle and more unpaid time off. They need all the help they can get. If you can’t spare a buck, spare a share so that they can have one less thing to worry about.

Oh, and #f**k cancer!