Help Emily Beat Ovarian Cancer

Help Emily Fight for Her Health and Her Future

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the story of our dear friend and family member, Emily, who is facing one of the most difficult battles of her life.

Just two months ago, Emily began experiencing pain in her lower abdomen. At first, she brushed it off and continued her day-to-day life, pouring her heart into her work at an autism clinic. But the pain grew worse and never went away. Eventually, she could barely stand up from a chair without unbearable discomfort.

Emily finally went to the ER, where scans revealed a 6-inch mass. The ER doctor showed major concerns that it could potentially be cancerous and spreading due to signs of fluid buildup in the abdomen. She was then referred to a gynecologic oncologist. The specialist immediately scheduled a laparoscopy, biopsies, and draining of fluid buildup to determine what was going on.

Emily has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and it is on both ovaries. Now, she needs major surgery, possibly a full hysterectomy, within the next week or two to beat the odds of cancer.

But the medical system has been painfully unkind to her. Emily had no qualifying life event to enroll in Marketplace insurance and was denied coverage. Private insurance turned her away over concerns of a “pre-existing” condition. One limited plan agreed to cover just $1,500 of the $5,500 procedure, forcing Emily to pay $4,000 out of pocket just to move forward. That plan expired after one procedure, leaving her with no ongoing coverage. On top of that, she’s facing an $11,000 ER bill and anticipation for a major surgery that she has no clue what it will cost yet.

She applied for Medicaid but was denied emergency coverage, shockingly, because they only give emergency coverage to illegal, non-citizens. Financial assistance from the hospital only offered a small discount and payment plans. Without insurance, the financial burden is overwhelming.

If you know Emily, you know she’s the kindest, most generous, fun-loving person you’ll ever meet. She’s only 28 years old, with her whole future ahead of her. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Texas A&M-Texarkana, completed her Master’s in Special Education at Texas Tech, and works as an ABA therapist helping children with autism. She’s also a huge Dallas Cowboys fan (even though they break her heart every season!).

Emily has been working toward passing her board exam to advance in her field, but her health crisis has forced her to put everything on hold, including having to stop working in an occupation she worked so hard to get into helping others. She’s always been the one to give the shirt off her back to help others. Now she’s the one who needs a village to rally around her, especially with no income coming in and medical bills piling up, plus more to come.

We’re asking for your help to give Emily the best possible care and the chance at a full recovery. Every dollar will go toward her surgery, medical bills, recovery costs, and living expenses. No amount is too small. Every contribution will lift her spirits and help carry her through this devastating time.

Please share, donate, and keep Emily in your prayers. Together, we can help her fight for her life and for the bright future she’s worked so hard to build.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you.