Donate to Neila Smith's Cancer Recovery Fund

Our friend, Neila Smith, has been diagnosed with cancer again. My immediate reaction was, “this is not fair.” She and her husband, Mark, have been down this cancer path too many times.

Neila is an amazing person. Her warmth and humor touch everyone fortunate enough to have her in their life. She lights up the world with her kindness, grace, and joy of life. Whether you know her from her 25 years in broadcast journalism or decades as a yoga and fitness instructor, she makes our world a better place. Her inner strength to deal with adversity is inspiring.

Neila has previously dealt with cancer in her life five times, and unfairly and unfortunately, she must deal with the disease again.

PROGNOSIS

Neila is facing, perhaps, the most difficult battle in her long history to wrestle good health from the unrelenting assault of cancer. This latest was discovered in Neila’s throat during an unrelated endoscopy. A new cancer is in the wall of her throat as well as on and under the larynx. Its position makes it a bad candidate for surgery. The other options of radiation and chemo have been ruled out because of the amount of both she has already received since her first cancer diagnosis in 1981. In a few weeks, she will begin immunotherapy infusions. The hope is this new treatment (unavailable through most of the cancers in her history) will subdue this new incidence and address any other undiscovered cancers. This new health challenge is asking so much of Neila. She’s already receiving love as well as spiritual and emotional support from many of you and is deeply sustained by this.

Since Neila and Mark are both self-employed, their income will be severely impacted during this time, and they are understandably concerned about financial issues.

It is not fair that Neila and Mark are in this situation, but we can make it more fair by helping them out. We are requesting funds to help them pay for medical costs not covered by insurance as well as living expenses. Please consider donating to aid Neila and Mark. Your contribution will help alleviate their anxiety around expenses so they can focus their energy on her recovery.