Help Kaycee Geitner Beat Breast Cancer

On the evening of March 19, 2019, I received a life-changing call from my daughter, Kaycee.  Her uncharacteristically worried tone set off alarms in my head.  When I heard her say, "I just found out I have breast cancer,"  I sat in stunned silence as the realization slowly crept in that our whole world was about to change.  

My beautiful daughter is a spirited, vibrant, adventurous, health-minded 28 year old.  She has spent the last few years solo traveling across the western part of the US  and was looking forward to returning to Alaska to work this summer. She loves camping, hiking, and will take you up on any adventure.

Kaycee moved to Colorado in 2015 to study Holistic Nutrition.  She graduated from her program as a Nutrition Consultant and integrates her studies into her daily life.  She is the picture of health even now as I write this.  At home, she loves to cook beautiful plant-based meals and is typically found with a smoothie or green juice in hand.  

With all her dreams lined up for another amazing summer working for a cruise line outside of Denali National Park, this news has dealt a hard blow to all aspects of her life and plans.  

Since the diagnoses, Kaycee has moved back home to Florida.  She says she doesn't mind so much.  She missed the sunshine after spending the winter working at a ski resort in Idaho.  As happy as we are to have her home, we wish she was here under different circumstances. 

Kaycee is now a patient at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.  We are blessed to have this facility so close to home, ranking 8th in the US for cancer treatment.  She has connected with oncologists that she feels comfortable with and will be proceeding with surgery in the weeks ahead.  

She has been diagnosed with Stage 2 ER+ PR+ HER2- breast cancer, one of the more aggressive forms of cancer.  She is also a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation which predisposes her to breast and ovarian cancer.  In the future, she hopes to help others by raising awareness in genetic testing so anyone BRCA positive will be encouraged to look at their options for cancer prevention and early detection.  

We are fortunate that this was caught early and are confident the skilled surgeons at Moffitt will be able to remove the cancer precisely and help Kaycee begin to heal.   

Kaycee's seasonal employment means she doesn't have employer-paid insurance, and the estimated months of treatment time will leave her without any income at all.  We humbly ask for your help during this challenging time for our family.  

All donations will go directly to medical bills, as well as grant Kaycee the ability to eat an organic plant-based diet, allow physical and emotional post-op support, and help her get back on her feet once she is well enough to return to work.  

For whatever you may be able to contribute, whether large or small, we are eternally grateful for your generosity in our time of need.  God bless you and keep you and may your kindness return to you 100 fold!


Kaycee hiking in Oregon last summer.

Kaycee holding her cousin Wesley and joined by her brother Zach.

 Kaycee in Bryce Canyon National Park during a road trip.

Kaycee during her first "14er" hike in Colorado.