Help Claudia Chandler during her treatment

Help our friends CLAUDIA and SCOTT during crisis.

We are asking for financial support with this campaign for our friends Claudia Chandler 
and Scott Giles and their children, Max (22) and Autumn (13). Please share with anyone you think may want to help. All funds will go directly to Claudia. Thank you!

Some may be unaware that Claudia has been fighting a very aggressive form of Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow, for almost 6 years now. It has been a constant battle with small windows of normalcy. Over the years, Claudia’s cancer, has mutated and changed and now has the ability to leave her bones and travel anywhere in her body, and it’s also become what’s called non-secretory which makes it impossible to detect with normal bloodwork, so frequent PET scans and MRI’s are the only way to detect disease progression. Unfortunately, it’s usually only when she’s in severe pain that scans are ordered, often finding the cancer has spread to all parts of her body. Between nearly 10 different treatment protocols, 2 stem cell transplants and the effects of medications, and the cancer itself, Claudia has experienced loss of much of her vision for over 6 months due to a medication, the inability to move her arm when the cancer took over her brachial plexus (the nerve center that controls your arm) and has been left with severe nerve damage in her arm, has developed critical high blood pressure due to severe pain that has sent her to the ER more than once, a tumor on her clavicle that left her with Horners syndrome (a drooping of eye and side of face similar to someone who had a stroke), cataracts because of the prolonged use of steroids, loss of feeling in her chin and lip with severe pain in her mouth and teeth due to tumors on her jaw which also led to the death of multiple teeth. Just this past summer she had 3 infections of her teeth which then needed root canals. Her jaw pain has been the latest impetus for testing because the pain is so bad she can’t even eat, she’s been living on smoothies.

Her second stem cell transplant was just this past March, which required her to remain out of work for the rest of the year and anyone that knows her well, knows that her work as an art teacher in Smithtown SD is her passion and being away from her sense of purpose leaves her struggling mentally. We were all saddened to learn that it has spread throughout her body again,literally from her head to feet. What’s so amazing is that no one would ever know unless she told you. Her fierce independence and stubbornness in asking for help is just who she is.

Some think teachers have unlimited time off with pay, but sadly this is not the case. Claudia has exhausted her ability to file for family medical leave act and although she will eventually be able to apply for the use of sick bank days through her union, she will have to go several weeks without pay. She will also have to pay for her own medical treatments out of pocket for the first month and a half until insurance picks up again. Cancer is not only a physical and mental burden, but the expenses incurred are life changing. We hope to ease some of this burden through this fundraising effort. Her multiple dental procedures alone this past summer cost more than $3,000. Even the smallest contribution will help, because anyone that knows her well knows that the last thing she wants is for her disease to impact her family financially. this journey with her, seeing the daily struggles she goes through, mentally, physically, and financially, yet she continues to smile and bring light to those around her. On Claudia’s behalf, we are asking for whatever support you may be able to give so we can show her and her family how much they mean to us! Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Fun Facts About Claudia:

*She loves dogs and has helped with foster care, rescue and adoptions- her family currently has 4 furry friends and would have more if Scott just gave in one more time!

*She is an extremely talented artist and her personal paintings are exquisite.

*She does have a weakness for ice cream, but has been dedicated to healthy eating and all things that can support the body naturally for decades. (acupuncture, NAET, applied kinesiology, meditation, etc.)

*She loves paddle-boarding and floating in the pool… AKA “float therapy at home.”

*She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it; she would give you all of her supplements, tinctures and teas, too, if you show interest so be careful what you ask for!

*She has a heart of gold that not even cancer can tarnish. She is humble, honest, and beautiful inside and out, and a one-of-a-kind mother, wife, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend.

*She is strong both in mind and will, yet soft and gentle in spirit and heart, she is self-sacrificing, steadfast, and anchored to her faith in God. She wants to survive no matter what the battle entails so she can be here for her family as long as possible. She may not be invincible, but she is invaluable, irreplaceable, and truly inspirational to us all.