Kellie is a quirky, introverted artist who loves the outdoors and cherishes her family and friends. Her passion in life is creating vibrant abstract paintings. On Sunday, March 30th, Kellie experienced a severe seizure at home and another in the emergency department. Since she had never had a seizure before, a head CT scan was performed, revealing a large mass in her frontal lobe as well as extensive swelling, which was causing the right side of her brain to press against the left side.

After spending four days in the hospital, an urgent referral was made to the neurosurgery team at the University of Washington Medical Center. On April 14th, Kellie underwent a craniotomy to remove the mass. Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon was unable to remove the entire mass, as doing so would likely have resulted in paralysis on the left side of her body. Compounding the situation, Kellie developed a post-operative bleed that necessitated an emergency craniotomy to remove the blood from her brain just hours after her initial surgery. Fortunately, the amazing healthcare providers at UW were able to intervene in time, preventing any lasting neurological damage from the bleed.

As of today, after spending four days in the ICU and experiencing one fainting episode that required another ED visit, the initial pathology results have come in: Kellie has been diagnosed with a grade 3 malignant glioma. We are currently awaiting additional molecular testing of the tumor for a definitive diagnosis and prognosis, which we hope to receive during our appointment on May 7th with the neuro-oncology team at the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at UWMC. This team includes a chemotherapy specialist, a radiation specialist, and an overall coordinator for her care.

Kellie is facing a difficult road ahead, and the financial burden of her medical care is significant. Because her insurance only provides Tier 2 coverage for providers outside of PeaceHealth, her out-of-pocket maximum is $13,000. We are asking for support from our community to help cover this cost, which will ease the strain of medical expenses and allow Kellie to access additional care, including specialists like a nutritionist and a naturopath, as she moves forward with treatment.

While we are still awaiting further test results, Kellie's oncology team at UW is already preparing for radiation and chemotherapy. As we navigate this complex and uncertain time, any support—whether through donations, sharing this page, or simply sending words of encouragement—would mean the world to us. We deeply appreciate any help you can provide, and we will continue to share updates as we learn more.

Thank you for standing with Kellie during this challenging moment.

You can see some of Kellie's artwork here https://www.instagram.com/kelliebeckerart/