Help Kelsey beat cancer (again)

6 years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis, Kelsey just received the worst news any cancer survivor can hear - her cancer has returned. She will be going into surgery on May 10 and will have to take an extended unpaid leave of absence from her full-time job. Please donate anything you can to support Kelsey + Daniel in this unimaginable time. They are facing daunting medical bills and reduced income.

Kelsey + Daniel just purchased their first house 8 months ago and Kelsey was weeks away from starting her solo-practice, which is now on hold. To say that this is 'unfair' seems like the understatement of the century, and if you know Kelsey + Daniel, you know they are the kindest souls and the least deserving of any kind of pain or struggle. Let's help take some of the financial burdens off their plates as they navigate through this extremely difficult time.

Some words from Kelsey:

"The waves of shock are enormous this time, and it’s difficult to formulate coherence while riding them out.

Having lived well and free of cancer the last 5 years—only to have the “clock” start over again—is indescribably painful.

The details matter, and they don’t.

My last routine MRI showed a small area of what radiologists call “a non-mass enhancement” on my cancer side. The area was biopsied soon after, and much to our surprise, the pathology showed invasive ductal carcinoma cells in two different (but thankfully small) tumors. The grade of the tumors is lower than last time around, which seemed to give the surgeon some optimism, especially being that we caught it so early.

I’ll have surgery, with intent to remove all breast tissue on the affected side, which is something I’m already grieving in a way I cannot place, nor can I imagine how to explain this to people who have never had to stare down cutting off a body part.

People assume remission is forever, because for many, it is. The first “battle” was won after 16 rounds of chemo, 3 surgeries, and 33 rounds of radiation. As I gained more years between the initial diagnosis and the one I have now, I cautiously and optimistically allowed cancer to be seen in my rear view.The road ahead is filled with things I can’t foresee, and it is definitely filled with both an emotional and financial burden I was not ready to face again.

We are planning on needing lots of help in the days to come."