
Help Lauren Gift with growing medical costs
If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Lauren, you know what a joy she is to be around. I have known her for over 5 years now and her friendship means the world to me. She is the most encouraging, loving, passionate person you will ever meet even though she has gone through so much.
Lauren has now been diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd time. She is not one to ask for help, but this is a time in her life when she needs it. Her medical bills are still coming from her last battle with cancer and now she will be adding to them. She also has bills from school as she was working towards getting a degree in the medical field to help her peers walk trough cancer like she has.
Many people have asked me what they can do to help. There are 3 things, that are tangible, that you can do.
1) Give. Any person with cancer is fighting for their life. They have so many things to think about, choices to make, and they are desperately trying to keep strength the make it through. They shouldn't have to worry about the bills that are going to come.
2) Write a Note. Lauren LOVES words of encouragement. She always has her hospital room covered with letters. She sticks them on the walls and windows as reminders of why she is fighting.
Address: 5501 Marengo Circle, Charlotte, NC 28216
3) Pray. It makes a difference. Pray for healing, strength, endurance, joy, hope, peace and rest.
Lauren's Story:
In Lauren's early 20's she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Through surgeries and lots of treatments she was able to overcome it, but the doctors told her it could come back in a different form. Years later, in her early 30's, it did. She was diagnosed with Leukemia 3 years ago and admitted to the hospital to start a long journey of fighting and healing. She needed a bone marrow transplant and after all of her siblings were tested as donors, they found her sister to be a 100% match! They were able to go through with the transfer fairly quickly. Lauren's body then had a long process of choosing to accept or reject her sisters cells. She spent months in the hospital getting tested, chemotherapy, fluids, treatment etc. She lost all of her hair and a lot of weight, but was able to keep herself positive. Her body was able to fully graft with her sisters cells and she made it to her "1st" birthday (*one year after bone marrow transfer).
As she continued to recover, Lauren decided to go back to school online to get a degree in which she could help other people who are going through what she went through. School was HARD for her, but she was doing really well. She started her internship in January and was getting closer to graduation! She starting feeling sick at the end of February and went to the hospital to get checked out. The doctor said she had a virus of some sort and started working on her fluids. Her fever didn't really go away so they opened up new tests. The doctor found a spot on Lauren's lower back and it was soon discovered to be Leukemia...again.
This is now her 3rd cancer diagnoses.
They are still working out treatment options, medical trial options, etc.
Any words of encouragement you can send, and/or financial assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated.