Help Fund Life Saving Medication for Gabriela

As Canadians, we assume that should the worst happen and we receive a cancer diagnosis, we can receive treatment without fear of financial ruin. For a very special woman and dear friend, this is not the case. She is faced with an impossible choice. Cutting-edge treatment at an incredible financial ruin.

Gabriela was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2013. After treatment, everything was looking up, until the dreaded news “You have Cancer” was once again delivered to her in 2021.

Gabriela has fought the fight with vigour and a positive attitude, determined to watch her son get married and start his own family. The news that her previous treatment stopped working devastated Gabriela and her family, but she did not give up. Her doctor has suggested a drug called ENHERTU. It is a brand-new treatment that has been approved for use in Canada but has only been funded in BC and Quebec. It is made by AstraZeneca and costs $8000.00 every three weeks. This treatment will keep this young vivacious lady alive by IV injection every three weeks. The problem is that AstraZeneca only covers 20% of the cost. Gabriela and her family would have to come up with $6,400.00 every three weeks.

We (members of her Metastatic Cancer support group aka The Love Group) and Gabriela's family will be lobbying to get this covered in Ontario as well. But first to get some funding for Gabriela so she can continue to keep the fight going and to see her dream come true of her son marrying the love of his life and having children. Most every parent’s dream.

Gabriela has been an important member of our Love Group. She is always cheering on the other members, providing us with a smile, and giving us all hope as to what cancer can be…LIVING. She has had various chemo treatments as well as radiation, and says that she “Still has a lot of fight left in her”. That is what those with cancer look for…hope, inspiration, and life.

Gabriela has been an important role model since she first came to Canada in 1992. She has welcomed many Latino Immigrants to the GTA, providing shelter, food, and clothing for those who have come to Canada looking for a better life. She is that welcoming face to help others in need when they come to Canada and helps navigate these families to their new life. She volunteers in the Spanish Community and was involved with the Hispanic Canadian Alliance of Durham. Gabriela has helped with events, picnics, and concerts for her community, all to make a difference. Canada has been good to her and she is always willing to give back. She has also helped those immigrants who have come to work in farmer’s fields during the growing season, to help these Mexican workers with clothing and transportation. Gabriela is always the first one to warmly welcome anyone or reach out if someone needs a hand. She has baked goods and provided clothing when people are down on their luck. There was a story I overheard about a lady who arrived in Canada from Venezuela and was robbed, and Gabriela was there to help this person get back on her feet.

It is now Gabriela’s turn to get a bit of help. She is a very soft-spoken, proud, and humble person with the biggest heart and a bigger smile. She has volunteered with the Cancer Society as well as Hearth Place. Even if you could spare $5.00 for the cause, it would take a little bit of stress out of her life.

Our LOVE Group thinks the world of Gabriela, and we hope you can feel the love as she is one amazing lady who deserves the chance at living. Please help, and if it is just by sharing that would be appreciated.

UPDATE: We have had an enormous response and feel the love. The petition has been a success and this drug is covered in Ontario For SOME cancer patients. Our Gabriela is not a candidate to apply for funding for ENHERTU as the eligibility criteria state the following requirement: "Patients must have not been treated with an anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate in the unresectable locally advanced or metastatic setting" which would preclude my wife from applying as she had previously received the KADCYLA."

So on one hand we did an awesome job at lobbying for funding, we just need to keep raising funds for Gabriela and her treatment. We will also be lobbying to have everyone covered and not discriminate based on past drugs provided.

Please keep sharing this GoFundMe page and share some more. We are a long way from our goal that would keep Gabriela living her best life.

From Nancy and The Love Group