I have a remarkable story to share about an incredible family and want to thank you in advance for your time, heart, and support. Before I tell you about Abi, I need to tell you about her Dad. Curt Floski might not be a local celebrity but he should be. He is the Executive Director of Shepherds House Ministries, our local faith based men’s homeless shelter. He has spent over 30 years selflessly serving this vulnerable population with humility, compassion, and a rock solid mission. He has a passion to create places of grace where men, women, and children find hope and healing. He has helped expand the Shepherds House Ministry to not just include a mens shelter, but also a rehabilitation program, a local women and childrens center, and winter shelters as well. Curt has faithfully and tirelessly poured into the Central Oregon community, serving those who many others have given up on or overlooked. He has helped not just to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, but he has actually walked alongside the hurting and the needy to effectively address the life controlling issues that perpetuate the cycles of pain and brokenness. And now Curt and his family need OUR love and support.

Through my tours and time at Shepherds house with my Dad, Curt would always mention that the endearing and affectionate nature of my relationship with my Dad reminded him fondly of himself and his daughter, Abi, who have always been very close. From all that Curt shared about his daughter, I knew I had to meet her and hear her story. You see, Abi is sick. Very sick, but that isn’t what Curt would talk about when he told me about his sweet girl. He told me how vibrant and beautiful and adventurous and kind and loving she was. And now that I’ve met Abi I see how right he was to tell me how alive Abi is, not how sick she is.

Abi Floski is currently 32 years old, she graduated from OHSU in December of 2018 as a nurse in the field of medical surgery. She moved home to Bend and got a full time job working nights as a nurse at St. Charles Hospital. She began to develop symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness, panic attacks, swelling and high blood pressure but excused them all due to the exhaustion and stress of working 12 hour night shifts at her new job.

When Abi did finally go into the Doctor she was misdiagnosed with an anxiety disorder, so it wasn’t until October 23rd of 2019 that Abi was told that she has stage 4 cancer. A scan showed that she has a very rare form of cancer, Adrenal Corticol Carsinoma (ACC), which required immediate and invasive surgery to remove both a tumor on her adrenal gland and a metastasis on her liver.

This first surgery on November 12, 2019 was successful and after a smooth recovery Abi and Curt began to consult with specialists to make a plan for her ongoing care and treatment. In December of 2019 they found a Doctor in Michigan who specializes in this rare cancer and decided to proceed under his care, even though he was out of Abi’s network and the family would have to pay out of pocket to travel and see him and receive his care.

This Doctor recommended radiation, but a scan in late December to prep for the radiation showed new nodules in her lungs, which meant that a more aggressive treatment was necessary so in January Abi started an intense combination of 3 different types of chemotherapy, which she was unable to tolerate after 2 rounds. Her medical team changed the chemo and she was able to complete 4 additional rounds, only to have every scan show a progression of cancerous lung nodules. Abi then completed 4 cycles of Immunotherapy, to help wake her immune system up to fight the cancer in her body, but to no avail. A scan at the end of 2020 showed another metastasis on her liver and even more nodules in her lungs.

Abi underwent surgery on her right lung on January 7th, 2021 and another surgery on March 3rd to remove her spleen and the cancer on her liver. After enduring a very difficult recovery from these back to back surgeries in Portland, during Covid no less, a scan in April of this year showed more metastasis on her liver and around her abdominal area just one month after removing the cancer.

Due to how rare and aggressive this cancer is, a Doctor in the Rare Tumors Department at the National Institute of Health on the East Coast became involved in Abi’s treatment. This Doctor suggested Abi see a specialist in New York City whom is also out of Abi’s Insurance Network. He wanted Abi to try a new type of chemotherapy for 2 rounds. Abi completed and tolerated both rounds but her most recent scan on June 4th showed progression of the cancer in all current areas. However, the cancer has not metastasized to any NEW areas, which her doctors found encouraging and has led them to a decision to adjust the chemotherapy and proceed with 8 more rounds. Abi is currently on round 4 of her chemo and her next scan will be at the end of this month.

Here is where I really want you to lean into this story…

Abi has told every Doctor that she has met with that she doesn’t want any dates. No timelines, no survival rates, statistics, or prognoses. She believes in her heart of hearts that this isn’t how she goes. She is staking her flag into the firm foundation of her faith; that cancer will not be the end of her story, but rather just the beginning of her journey in witnessing Gods miraculous healing in her own life and in the lives of the patients that she has yet to serve. Abi’s dream is to go into women’s care as a labor and delivery nurse, bringing brand new precious life safely into this world. You see the Floski’s are all about serving people… there is a beautiful parallel in what father and daughter do to care for the whole of a broken person… Curt in their spiritual and physical needs and Abi in their health and healing. And now it is our turn to care for them. Would you join me now in praying this big prayer with big faith to our BIG GOD? Pray for Abi’s complete healing and for her scan at the end of July to show a dramatic retreat of the cancer in the affected areas and that the cancer hasn’t spread to ANY new areas. Would you also join me in supporting the Floski’s financially as they grapple with the exorbitant medical bills from travel expenses, new chemos that aren’t covered by insurance, missing work, and the cost of her out of network care. Please share this page with your family and friends and online networks and give whatever amount you are able to help rally around this incredible family in their time of need. As I have seen time and time again, Central Oregon is a loving community that takes good and loving care of their neighbors. Just ask Curt and Abi Floski.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!!!