Fundraiser to help with Kelcey’s medical expenses

Hi, my name is Teresa, and I’m setting up a fundraiser to assist with medical and out-of-pocket expenses for the most dynamic and loving person I’ve ever known.

Kelcey Wiginton, a 46-year-old female, originally from Dallas, Texas, has always had the desire to be a caregiver. As a child, she would routinely rescue animals and aspired to become a veterinarian; however, going through college, she found her passion and graduated as a doctor to help people. She went on to treat patients in poverty-stricken areas of Africa. She then took care of patients in Puerto Rico, then in the Middle East, and currently serves in Clearwater, Florida. She donates a huge portion of her time to help students in doctorate programs have the right training and resources to graduate as successful physicians and focuses the majority of her efforts on the best ways to optimize patient results.

Early this past summer, Kelcey was blindsided by discovering that she had stage 4 ovarian cancer that had metastasized up into her abdomen. Facing a grim prognosis from traditional US medical hospitals and physicians, she began visiting and treating at different medical and holistic centers that offered her a better potential outcome. However, nothing worked. She was dying.

The entire summer, she was unable to leave her bed except to go for treatments, spent July 4th in the hospital, couldn't eat solid food for months, and dropped down to only 85lbs. Always willing to give the shirt off her back to help others, she has been unable to work or volunteer since May, spent all of her savings and maxing out credit cards, trying to find a way to beat the cancer and live.

In September 2022, she was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, with her electrolytes and nutritional levels plummeting. Her tumor was too large, her intestines were unable to function, and she was told there was nothing that could be done to save her. They told her that she was terminal, refused to give her IV nutrition (which was critically necessary at this point), told her to sign a Living Will document, offered only palliative care, and introduced her to the hospital chaplain. Kelcey’s life of serving others was coming to an end.

Fortunately for Kelcey, her family refused to give up. They researched and found a facility in Mexico that could offer her life-saving emergency care as well as effective cancer treatments not utilized in the US. In a matter of only 18 hours, they located the facility, packed clothes, bought airplane tickets, drove 1 ½ hours to the airport, flew to San Diego, California, crossed the border, arrived at the hospital and was quickly taken into the ER. It was a huge leap of faith, and it is a miracle that she even made it there. Within the first 24 hours of care, Kelcey was already showing signs of responding. Her electrolyte and nutritional levels were on the rise. She was stabilizing and realizing that she’s got a chance.

A few days later, the surgeon went in to try to remove the tumor. Within 30 minutes, the surgeon came out of the room to report to the family that there was nothing he could do because the tumor had wrapped itself around the intestines and organs and had formed a “frozen abdomen”. He said that if he tried to remove it, she would die on his table. The family decided not to attempt it but to begin the oncological and immunological treatments. Within days, Kelcey was transferred to another hospital location and began receiving treatments to fight the cancer directly. She has also been receiving constant IV nutrition until which time her intestines are free of the tumor obstructions and she can begin eating on her own. The good news to report is that her tumor has shrunk from 18cm down to 10cm, and her organs are beginning to function better. The intense pain she has dealt with for nearly five months is reducing, abdominal swelling is reducing, and there is hope!

She remains in the Mexico hospital, receiving consistent IV nutrition and other as-needed medications. They do frequent bloodwork to assess any alterations in her health from the cancer treatments and respond immediately. She has had to have two blood transfusions for low hemoglobin and has needed other additional treatment modifications. 2 weeks into her hospital care, she acquired a bacterial infection on top of everything else, which required high doses of antibiotics. Between multiple tubes in and out of her body, numerous diagnostic imaging scans, ongoing treatments, requirements of remaining hospitalized for the time being, and the overall discouragement of the situation, Kelcey has been learning the challenges of being a "care receiver" rather than a "care giver" and is trying to keep her spirits up.

Many people have been praying for Kelcey and sending her love and sweet messages. She still requires the IV nutrition until she can eat solid food. She will need additional cancer treatments, more diagnostic scans, surgery for tumor removal, and post-surgical treatments to ensure the cancer is fully gone. This is projected to take another 8-10 weeks and the ongoing costs of treatment is overwhelming.

The debt incurred so far surpassed $100,000 and is projected to be approximately $100,000-150,000 more. As one who has always taken care of other people, she would never consider asking others to help pay for her care. However, her life depends on it and, as her friend, I am asking for her.

Please consider helping Kelcey in her greatest time of need. Any amount, large or small will be greatly appreciated. God bless.