Help Sammy Battle Ovarian Cancer

Hi, my name is Jacklyn, and I am creating this go fund me on behalf of my amazing friend, Sammy Gagel, who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Sammy is a 32-year-old stay at home mother of an adventurous 3-year-old little girl, Oaklynn. She recently married the love of her life, Michael Gagel, who is a local firefighter for Volusia County Fire Rescue, and the sole provider for their family. Sammy and Michael met in Kentucky where they are both from and moved to the Daytona Beach area together. Sammy is the purest soul I know, she is down to earth, has a love for traveling & exploring the world and her number one priority is raising her daughter. She is a Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend and someone who always puts those she cares about above herself. She needs our support and help through this difficult time.

After a year of experiencing persistent lower back pain and pelvic tenderness and being dismissed by doctors, she continued to be an advocate for her own health, and finally got some answers. She was told she had a cyst on her ovary and that she would need surgery to remove it, as well as finding out she was pregnant all at the same time, she is currently 20 weeks pregnant with their second child, a miracle little baby boy. Just a week after having her left ovary and fallopian tube removed, Sammy got the news that she has low grade serous ovarian cancer with invasive implants. Her pathology was then sent to John Hopkins for expert review and definitive classification of the tumor, so she is currently waiting for that.

Her mother flew down from Kentucky and has been by her side through everything thus far but must return home soon. During this battle, Sammys main caretaker will be her husband, her mother and father will do their best to fly down as often as possible and her friends & family will surround her with love.

She begins her six rounds of chemo treatments next Friday, February 23rd and will be fighting hard. We are praying and hopeful that this treatment helps fight off the invasive implants and gets her well again but there is also a chance that after Sammys pregnancy she may need further surgeries and more rounds of chemo.

I am setting up this go fund me in hopes of easing some of their financial burden throughout this process. The money will assist with any medical bills, Michael’s time off from work as her caretaker, multiple flights back and forth from Kentucky for her mother and father and possible childcare costs.

Sammy is the best mother ever and needs our love and support. If you can find it in your heart and are able to donate, please help Sammy and Michael fight this battle with one less worry. If you cannot donate, please share this link and keep Sammy in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you all.