Hi, I'm Frankie Smith. I'm a Storyboard Artist here in Los Angeles. And in August of 2023 I was diagnosed with 3rd Stage Ovarian Cancer.

Let me set the scene:

I'm a storyboard artist. Moved to LA early 2017 from Oregon. And with nothing more than what I could fit in my car. Since, I've weathered through building a (new) career (storyboard artist), in a new town and state and all the ups/downs associated, and then a pandemic and on to 2023 with a writers and actors strike that shut this industry down.

The scene is me, in my oncologist's office, after a August where my abdomen swelled (painfully) and three visits to the ER led me to five days in the hospital. My oncologist is telling me the results of the biopsy. Cancer. I am numb. I ask her one question: "am I screwed?" "NOT AT ALL" she replied.

I'm healthy. A lifetime of being competitive in a variety of sports and a strength athlete has paid off. She immediately outlined the course of treatment. Six chemotherapy sessions and a surgery. So, three sessions, a surgery (hysterectomy) in November and followed by three sessions; depending on how well the surgery and previous sessions go. And the outlook looks good.

Chemotherapy is a success, shrinking the masses in my abdomen enough so whatever is left is removed (along with a few organs) in November. The final three chemotherapy sessions is mostly to ensure whatever cancer is left is...destroyed? Taken out? Something like that. My final (what is suppose to be, fingers crossed), session was February 26th. And thank the gods for that because I DID NOT take to chemotherapy well. The fatigue and nausea would linger for well into two weeks after a session.

Now, its about making sure I'm not a part of the 77% of ovarian cancer patients who experience a re-emergence of cancer within five years. So, I'm taking a (very expensive) trial medication - a tablet a day (to keep the cancer away har har).

Meanwhile, I've received a bill for chemotherapy; awaiting for the second and I'm unsure what or how much I need to pay for this trial medication. So...

a portion of this GoFundMe will go to a "trust fund" of sorts that'll take care of medical costs (that aren't or haven't been covered by the, so far, really helpful insurance).

But during this time, I have not been able to work, for obvious reasons. And before the diagnosis, whatever savings had been decimated due to the strikes and no work. I had lined up a few interviews for work (non-industry, non-art), but the cancer certainly made interviews, and well, work, impossible.

Also before the diagnosis, I was on my way to becoming a gallery artist and selling my oil paintings. During the first phase of treatment, I began to paint again. There was a break from treatment after surgery and I took full advantage, finishing some pieces. I have a store on Big Cartel, if you are at all interested. (frankiesmith.bigcartel.com). I also have a online gallery of paintings, frankiesmithstudio.com.

Present Day: I have *just* applied for disability. It will take 4-6 months before I find out if I've been approved and if approved, until I receive funds.

Another portion of this GoFundMe is to offset a loss of income and rent. I've been lucky that I have an amazing and incredibly understanding roommate throughout this cancer ordeal. He's seen me at my absolute, emaciated worst. I am grateful for this roommate (and geez, so sorry for the horrible sight I may have been, zombielike-shuffling from my room to the kitchen or bathroom and back). Also grateful for the friends who checked in on my progress daily and weekly. It means a lot, more than I could ever put into words. I'm sure its a big reason I'm still here. Y'all and my tremendous care team, kept me strong. Even after dropping weight to 100lbs, I refused to feel any less than optimism on my outcome.

I should mention that in better times, I would be in Kuwait now visiting my sister (and her kids, my nieces and nephew [and their kids!]). This past January, my sister was to be here, in LA, visiting. But she passed away suddenly on December 1st, while I was still in the hospital, recovering from surgery. Travel plans are now, sometime in the very near future, to visit my sister's final resting place in Kuwait. My sister was my biggest cheerleader, after my diagnosis. I wish she was here to celebrate my recovery.

Besides my sister (when she was still here) and the friends, its been just me. I've been my only advocate throughout these treatments and two hospital stays. All of this has been brand new, uncharted territory for me and I've had to spend much of my earlier bedridden days, researching. I also planned my own diet and recovery regimen. Hah, sometimes to the horror of my oncologist, "you CANNOT lift more than 10lbs!" (Note: I'm okay now, she's given me the greenlight to train again. I began chemotherapy physical therapy, recently as well). I performed my own "travel management" for doctors visits, chemotherapy sessions, CT scans, bloodwork, etc. Out. Of. Pocket. Because I DID NOT drive during all those months. So it was Uber/Lyft. This also created a financial strain.

Meanwhile, I'm finishing up storyboards for this (non-union) sci fi feature. And I had, back before August, connected with a "Star Wars" collectable card opportunity in where I paint (oils, of course) Star Wars characters/settings on collectable cards. I've already done one (Annakin and Padme's wedding on a fold out) and more will be on the way. Actively looking for gallery show opportunities and the recent LA Art Show inspired me to go bigger. Very soon I'll be introducing oil "sketches" on 10x10 panels - these will be concepts for the bigger pieces.

I see this all in this way: if I do have *just* five years, I'm definitely going to make the most of it. Meanwhile, this is a hump that I need to get over with some help.

(Note: if you know of anyone who may need a Wacom Cintiq 22 [21.5 inch], I am selling mine that I bought in July 2021. Its been used just a handful of times (like, five times). Since November, its been packed away in its original box(es). Anyways, if you know of anyone, point them my way, thank you)