UPDATE: Stephanie finished her chemo in September 2021. She had a double mastectomy in November 2021 and started immunotherapy in December 2021. Immunotherapy is 14 consecutive treatments every 3 weeks which ends August 30, 2022. While it is not as bad as chemo, it still makes her sick. She should have reconstructive surgery sometime in August. She is approved through her long term disability until October 31st. 

However, she just found out that her insurance has been canceled. She has been offered COBRA at 4x the cost. She is looking at other options but they all have high deductibles which she has already met with her insurance. These met deductibles carry over to COBRA. The stress of all of this has been unbearable. She has considered stopping treatments and going back to work but this is not what is best for her health. If we can all pitch in and help, she can get the treatment and surgery she needs. She is cancer free and wants to stay that way!

Original post:

My best friend, Stephanie Calcote, was widowed three years ago when her husband and best friend, John, succumbed to cancer. It was heartbreaking to see such an inspiring love match end so tragically.

In April 2021, Steph got the news that she had 2 lumps in her breast. The cancer center— assuming both lumps had the same pathology—tested only one. The test came back as estrogen+ and progesterone+ and HER2-. That was encouraging!

The surgeon then requested testing on the second lump. The results came back as HER2+ positive, which makes it more aggressive. And then they discovered a third lump.

Stephanie is a single mom, and a great one. But she is facing financial strains from reduced income while she’s on medical leave from her job as an x-ray technologist. She has a mortgage to pay, a son she’s putting through college, and a daughter who starts college in the fall.

I’m so proud of everything Stephanie has achieved, through her positive attitude and unrelenting faith. She worries about paying her household bills while also taking on the burden of the cost of the medical care that she needs to save her life.

I know there are people out there who understand the toll that cancer takes, not just on the patient but their family. I’m setting up this GoFundMe page with hopes that there are enough of us who can give one strong woman the ability to focus on the price of staying alive, instead of the cost of living.