Hi! My name is Katherine. Allow me to give a short introduction to me and my life before I get to the reason for my fundraiser. I believe it is important for you to know who I am and understand the importance of what it is I am asking.

After high school, I joined the Army and proudly served this country for 4 years. At that time, the Army motto was, "Be All that you can Be!" That is a motto I have lived by throughout my adulthood. I have approached every challenge with tenaciousness and have overcome a lot in life. Now I am facing the largest struggle ever and I am approaching it in the same way as I have with everything so far - tenaciousness.

In 2019 I had the misfortune of becoming homeless, which I attribute to many years of disabilities and age catching up to me, which forced me into lower and lower income as my disabilities became worse, leading to my inability to continue paying ever increasing rent.

Though homelessness for me was unpleasant, to say the least, it was my experience with it that would help me find my path in life - that thing that gives meaning and fulfillment to our lives – to end homelessness. I know I may not be able to directly end homelessness in this country, or even in my state, but I can work towards ending homelessness in my community. Perhaps, the work I do here will have an impact that spreads and will eventually put an end to it once and for all.

It was only two years after I began this work that I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Moderate Mucinous Appendiceal Carcinoma and Carcinomatosis of the Peritoneal Cavity. What this means in plain English is that I have appendix cancer, which is a rare and fatal form of cancer. I have been through two runs of chemotherapy (July-Oct 2021 and Sept-Nov 2022) and two major surgeries (Nov 2021 and Apr 2023), and there is no treatment left for me at this time. I went into this knowing that our Western version of medicine (allopathic medicine) has no known cure for this type of cancer, but I have always viewed it as something I could overcome nonetheless, because I know there are countless people, having a given mindset, who have overcome catastrophic injuries and deadly diseases, and I know there are many other forms of medicine that are just as legitimate. In this knowledge, I have hope.

In my research I’ve found there are lots of alternative treatment methods that have proven to be successful for many cancers, including those that are rare. The treatment center I have chosen approaches cancer through several treatment methods that are specific to the type of cancer one has. The first step involves a complete review of my medical records, several lab tests and imaging studies, and then genetic testing of the cancer tumor I have to determine what treatment methods are to be used to target the specific type of cancer I have. Though some of this will be covered by my insurance, the largest part of it is not. The goal I have set is aimed at getting me through that first step to see if I am a good candidate for treatment.

I've had CT scans every 3 months to monitor the cancer growth. As of my last scan (March), it has remained confined to my abdomen, which is a plus. But, the clock has been ticking for too long as it is and I need to act ASAP. Please give me a chance to continue Being All That I Can Be and help me continue my work to end homelessness in my community.

Just as I know I cannot pay for this treatment without your help, I know that I cannot end homelessness by myself. I am fortunate enough to belong to an organization in my community that has worked hard to achieve the same goals, and we’ve made great strides. We still have much work to do however, and it is the chance to continue this work that I am asking for. I am still young, full of life, very involved in my community, I enjoy several hobbies, and I have many more things in life I want to experience. But, in the end, I want to know I was able to accomplish something in my life that had a positive impact on others. Your help not only helps me, but also helps others.

Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated! Please share my fundraising request with others and be sure to let the people you share it with know that you know me and/or have faith in me. Thanks!

EDIT : Rather than delete anything already written, which could add confusion to what Im doing, I decided it is best just to add additional information here to let everyone know what I am doing, which is changing the path I plan to follow for the cancer treatment I am seeking:

First, the original amount I was seeking ($10K), has been reduced to $5K. Second, rather than seeking treatment at the ccancer treatment facility in Arizona that I mentioned above, I am going to try to find a supportive wrightloss program in which I can be more successful in losing weight than I have been able to do on my own. Please allow me to say that this still in the hopes of finding healing for the cancer that is laying waste to my body, so the goal is the same, but the path I'm choosing to take in that direction is going to change. Why? Well, the primary reason is that after several months of having this fundraiser up, it has become clear to me that I cannot meet that $10K goal - at least, not in a more timely manner. In the meantime, the cancer has been spreading and I cannot wait indefinitely for that treatment path to open up to me. Secondly, I've been reading an excellent book that talks about cancer, and through a tremendous amount of research done, it seems to come down to obesity (amongst other things that are intertwined with this) that is the cause of this cancer in the first place. The treatment center I mentioned above would have had a heavy nutritional component to my healing anyway, so if I can find a weighloss solution and lose a bunch of weight, I will be on the right track regardless of the path I take. I've been trying to lose weight for years anyway - not for any reason other than for the benefit of my health - but have only been successful in losing 5-10 pounds in most cases, with an occasional 40 pounds at other times, but always seem to put that weight back on, plus more. Currently I weight 18 pounds less than my highest weight, but it has been a struggle to get to this point, and it has been super slow. I need a more managed program in which I can be more successful. My hopes in losing weight are these:

1. Improve my over health and well-being

2. Improve my mobility (I'm currently using a walker, I'm unsteady on my feet, I've injured myself in 2 falls in less than 2 years and cannot get up on my own, and I find it painful to walk due to osteoarthritis in both knees and right hip, with very little cartilage, and losing weight will improve that pain by taking off the additional pressure on my joints)

3. Reduce to speed at which the cancer is growing

4. Extend my life (less fat and even better nutrition will no doubt slow the cancer growth, giving me more years to live)

5. Improve my sleep (my weight affects my sleep too with sleep apnea, pain throughout my body, and difficulty in breathing)

6. Improve my overall quality of life

7. And ultimately put me in a better place to exercise more (giving me better strength, agility, stamina, endurance...)

8. And hopefully the ability to earn a better income.

9. Improve my mental health, outlook and sense of hope

If I can lose a significant amount of weight, then I hope to have an overall improvement in my general health and in achieving the outcomes associated with losing weight, and if I cannot completely cure myself from this cancer, then at he very least I have given myself more time to live with a better quality of life from slowing the cancer growth.

To my current donors: I hope you'll still give me a chance to follow this path, with your generous donations, but if you feel like your donation was given with the treatment center in Arizona in mind, and you would like to receive a refund, then I will understand and happily return your donation. I'll send out personal emails to you all letting you know and give you the chance to decide at that time as well. Thanks for your continued love and support regardless of the money. It truly means a lot to me!