If you know Patti, you know how much of her life has been spent speaking up for other people. Through her work she has always been a strong advocate, and with friends and family she is the one who shows up, listens, and makes sure people don’t feel alone. She has also been a mentor to so many of us, offering guidance, encouragement, and perspective when we needed it most.

What stands out most about Patti right now is how she is meeting such a difficult situation with courage and a positive outlook. Even while facing fear and uncertainty, she still manages to bring humour and lightness into the conversation, reminding us of her strength and spirit.

Rather than us explaining her medical journey, here it is in Patti’s own words:

"It started out as squamous cell carcinoma of the bootie… or anal cancer, which is apparently a ‘good’ cancer to get as it is highly treatable with (so-called ‘light’) chemo and radiation. For 6 weeks last year I did this treatment, and I was overjoyed to hear it resolved in the area it was first found.

However, recent scans showed that it has metastasized to my lung. Surgery and radiation are not options, and chemo was recently stopped. I was excited to be offered immunotherapy. However, I just found out that the immunotherapy drug being recommended to me is not covered for anal cancer. It is covered for many other cancers, but not this ‘shitty’ one (little levity :).

Therefore, I will need to advocate with insurance for funding under exceptional and/or compassionate programs, and this will take some time.

Truth be told, time is of the essence. As I wait for treatment I am often riddled with anxiety about my situation and beyond scared. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who care and who want to help, yet as a helper it seems foreign for me to ask for and accept such help (I am working on this :).

This GoFundMe would help to cover the cost of a few sessions of immunotherapy while I continue to advocate for funding. Ideally, the immunotherapy would show promise and would make for a compelling argument for insurance to cover, better than random clinical trials!"

We are raising money to help cover the first rounds of immunotherapy and the costs that come with it. Patti’s doctor has recommended one year of treatment, with one infusion each month at approximately $10,000 per session. On top of the medical challenges, Patti also had to step away from her permanent position due to her illness. She is deeply missed by her colleagues there, who know firsthand the dedication, mentorship, and heart she brought to her work.

Through it all, she continues to face this with courage, positivity, and the same strength that has inspired so many of us over the years.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help Patti begin treatment while she continues to push for longer-term insurance coverage. If you can’t give, sharing this campaign would mean a lot.

Patti has spent her career advocating for other people, mentoring those who looked up to her, and showing us what resilience looks like. Let’s show Patti that the community she has always stood up for is ready to stand up for her.