Help Anne Recover from Cancer Surgery

My name is Kirah Strnad, organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my cousin, Anne Brantley Patrick, after her cancer diagnosis. All funds will go directly to Anne and her family, to help cover living costs while she recovers from surgery later this month.

Here is their situation, as written by her husband, Bill --

Our Story:

"Recently, my wife Anne was diagnosed with cancer. The adenoma they found was small, and typically easy to remove. However, its location, coupled with the fact that Anne already suffers from Garner’s Syndrome, a disease that causes polyps and tumors throughout her digestive tract, demands she undergo major invasive surgery in the coming weeks.

Decades ago, Anne survived a similar surgery, but lost her colon in the process. This time, the doctors plan to remove a section of her small intestine, as well as portions of her pancreas, stomach and the entirety of her gall bladder.

While the prognosis is positive, the risks are many…and the costs great."

The Costs:

"Since the pandemic, Anne, a schoolteacher, has been the family breadwinner. With one parent needing to stay home with our toddler children, it simply made fiscal sense for the parent with the higher paying job to remain in the workforce; that was Anne.

Her recovery will be at least six weeks, after a surgery that will keep her hospitalized for up to two weeks – and that’s if there are no complications. Bills and responsibilities such as mortgage, insurance, utilities, etc. will likely be impossible to meet after a month and a half without the paycheck on which our family has depended.

Additionally, Anne’s treatment is in Houston, a three hour drive from our home. Fuel costs, wear and tear on our primary vehicle, and motel fees for myself are expenses we simply did not foresee, and do not have readily available."

Timeline:

"Anne’s diagnosis was just over a week ago. To increase her chances of full recovery, as well as to better ensure her highest quality of life, surgery has been planned as soon as possible – February 24. Therefore, our need is both very real, and immediate."

How you can help:

"Our family would greatly appreciate any donation you could afford. Anne is typically the first one offering to provide help, and is rather unaccustomed to asking for it, so this is terrifically difficult for her, as you can imagine. However, needs must.

Also, sharing this link on your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media page would be a great help to us.

Finally, if you would keep Anne in your hearts during this difficult and trying time, that would be wonderful.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and thank you in advance for any help you might be able to afford."