Help Kayla In Her Fight Against Cancer

Hello, my name is Phoenix and I am creating this GoFundMe for my friend Kayla who is battling cancer.

Kayla's Cancer Journey:

Around September 2016, at age 25, Kayla was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkins Lymphoma. She was diagnosed quickly after seeing a doctor for a persistant and severe feeling of general unwellness.

Over the next several years Kayla received regular tests and several treatments, including chemotherapy, blood transfusions, immunosuppressant therapy, radiation, and stem cell transplants. Her treatments and medications caused her to suffer constant pain, illness, immobility, and resulted in frequent hospitalizations, sometimes up to three months in length.

Her PETscan in 2018 showed that regardless of treatments, Kayla's cancer had actually gotten worse. Her results since then haven’t showed any changes to her cancer- it has not worsened, but unfortunately it has not shown signs of improvement either. 

Since then, Kayla has received regular immunotherapy cycles every three weeks, with occasional treatment breaks. Her cancer continues to show no change.

Kayla's Financial Situation:

Kayla has only herself to rely on financially and her main source of income is her disability payments. Due to her severe illness, debilitating side effects and frequent hospital visits, she is unable to work.

Kayla's disability payments are $1200 monthly, and her current rent is $900 monthly. Kayla struggles every month to make ends meet. To make matters worse, her landlord recently sold the home she has been renting for the last ten years and her monthly rent expenses are going to increase significantly.

Where your donations will go:

Donations received from this GoFundMe will go towards helping Kayla pay her monthly bills and purchase necessities. Right now, Kayla's biggest wish is to purchase a vehicle so that she no longer has to take public transit to her appointments. Often times she is too ill for transit/walking and misses important appointments. Taking public transit as a severely immunocompromised individual during a pandemic is also not ideal. If the fundraiser does well, she would like to use funds to purchase a cheap but (hopefully!) reliable used vehicle.

Why a $25,000 goal?

I was not sure what goal to choose as the money is to support Kayla with all of life's necessary expenses, and her illness is so unpredictable. This goal may be adjusted as things move along.

Other ways you can help:

Sharing this fundraiser.

Kayla is located in Kelowna, BC. Donations of essential items (such as household items or personal care items), food items or child care items for Kayla's son with whom she has shared custody, would also be welcome.

Thank you to everyone who reads this story, shares our fundraiser, and for any and all donations or kind words of support!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!