I, Muriel Gatlin, have launched a GoFundMe for Kalista Silva. The money donated to this fund will be used by the family to pay for Kalista’s medical bills and out of town lodging while she receives chemotherapy. All contributions, regardless of the amount are greatly appreciated by her family.

On August 29 2025, Kalista Silva and her family received devastating news that her biopsies revealed that she has desmoplastic small round cell tumors (dsrct). This is a very rare and aggressive cancer. This past Thursday, Kalista started inpatient chemotherapy and so far completed two rounds. After her third round, she will have surgery then she will need to go to Miami Children’s Hospital (approximately 281 miles from where she lives) for a chemo wash of the abdomen. This will be followed by more chemotherapy and radiation.

Kalista is a 17 year old, fun loving, teenager whose only concerns were participating in all the activities that come with being a senior in high school, hanging out with her family and friends and maintaining her high honor roll status. Needless to say, this cancer diagnosis was not part of the senior year that she nor her parents anticipated but it is a reality that they are trying to comprehend.

Her parents, Katherine Licwov (aka Katherine Silva) and Abel Silva are Air Force Veterans, both were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Katherine is caring for their two other daughters and her son Luke, 3 years old with Downs Syndrome, taking him to his various therapies and appointments. As you can imagine this can be a logistical nightmare.