Support Kelly's Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Kelly is a devoted mother of two girls (15 & 12), a wife, and a friend. She is also a gifted teacher at Issaquah High School.

In mid-June, Kelly began experiencing pain in her upper abdomen and back. Kelly went to urgent care, and after running some tests, they sent her home with the directive to drink more water. On June 16, Kelly was awakened by a phone call telling her to go to the ER because her liver functions were abnormal. After a CT scan and MRI, the doctor delivered an earthshaking diagnosis, telling Kelly, “You have pancreatic cancer, and we see spots in your liver. A bile duct from the pancreas is blocked; you need surgery to place a stent to open the duct and get the liver working properly.” Kelly feels confident in her doctor at Fred Hutch and his treatment plan, and, true to form, is dedicated to tackling what she can control in terms of diet and exercise. She began her first round of chemo on Monday, July 8, with the second round slated to begin July 22.

Not only has this flipped Kelly’s world upside down, it has already and will continue to take a financial and emotional toll on the Tarp family. We are hoping to relieve some of the stress and give them a bit of breathing space. We are asking for donations to cover medical and household expenses so Kelly, Joe, Katherine and Julia can focus on beating this disease. Your kindness and generosity will provide much-needed financial relief, and more importantly, a sense of hope and strength.

Thank you for taking the time to read Kelly’s story. We so appreciate your unconditional love and support.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Friends of the Tarp Family

While we will post updates here, you can follow Kelly’s treatment progress through her CaringBridge site .