From Kim, Malinda's wife:

When we moved back to Oregon, Malinda was hopeful she’d find a full-time job this fall. But everything changed in April when she was diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer. Without a job, she qualified for Medicaid, which in our area is managed by Yamhill Community Care. At first, her doctors thought her cancer would be straightforward to treat with chemo and surgery. But they missed a critical detail: Malinda has a rare genetic anomaly—her left kidney is deep in her pelvic region, just half a centimeter from her tumor. This was overlooked by her medical team, and it changes everything about her treatment options.

Because of the location of her kidney, Malinda can never have radiation, which is one of the three main ways to treat rectal cancer. Surgery is now incredibly difficult and dangerous, with only a handful of cases like hers ever documented worldwide. Her private oncologist told us there are only four places in the US equipped to handle this surgery. We were able to schedule a consultation at the Cleveland Clinic, paying privately for appointments and travel. Unfortunately, Yamhill Community Care has not approved her care outside of Oregon, so we are left to cover these costs ourselves. We leave December 1st for surgery on December 4th, with our family covering all travel and lodging expenses so far.

Malinda is the big sister I never had—my sorority big sister. She and her family are always the first to help others, never the ones to ask for help. Now, we’re asking for support to help cover Malinda’s medical bills, travel, lodging, and living expenses during this incredibly challenging time. Any donation or sharing of this fundraiser means the world to us. Thank you for standing with Malinda and our family.