Hello family, friends & community at large,

We’re reaching out to you for help for our dear friend, sister, and partner Kayla. In January of this year, Kayla was experiencing unusual health issues. After being admitted for 10 days at Vancouver General Hospital in the Cardiac Care Unit, to have fluid drained from her lungs and heart, she had a bronchoscopy performed and the fluid tested positive for cancer. 

Kayla has stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) with a very rare mutation called ROS1. The tumours in her lungs are inoperable.  As a vibrant 33 year-old, healthy, non-smoker, with no family history of cancer, this news is both tragic and shocking.  Working under the care of an outstanding team of oncology health care providers at the BC Cancer Agency and the Sechelt hospital, Kayla has begun a targeted chemotherapy treatment (Critzotinib) that will hopefully shrink, and/or stop the cancer from spreading and prolong her life. We are all optimistic, but the stark reality is that her prognosis is not known at this time. The cancer cells will eventually mutate and the chemotherapy will be ineffective and at that point, alternative treatments will need to be sought and pursued.

[We will be posting occasional updates on Kayla's condition, so refer back to this page if you would like an update on how Kayla is doing, as things unfold over time.]

Kayla has spent her career so far working in sustainability and climate justice in a tireless effort to help people, communities, and the environment, but now she is the one who needs help and support. It’s difficult to put into words the strength and power that Kayla has – it’s for this reason we’re reaching out to you. 

Fighting cancer is challenging and unfortunately incurs enormous expenses. Worrying about finances shouldn’t be something that Kayla and her partner Dave (or any cancer patient and their family) should have to think about.  The funds we raise here will help Kayla and Dave plan for any future unknown costs associated with long-term treatment (e.g. participation in a clinical trial based domestically or internationally), and relieve the family’s financial pressure while she fights cancer. Kayla is a strong proponent of scientific research and development so any outstanding or unused funds, if any, will be donated to the BC Cancer Agency and to lung cancer research.  

We want Kayla and Dave to be able to focus on staying as comfortable and as happy as possible. There are many other ways that folks are supporting Kayla and Dave which are greatly appreciated, but for those who have the means and are able to contribute a donation, no matter how large or small, it will go towards some relief for them. Please share this link with your social circle!

This couple is facing unimaginable challenges and pain. We know that there is a vast community of people across Canada who love them and will rise to rally around them. On behalf of Kayla and Dave, your loving thoughts and positive energy are so important and are received with the deepest thanks.