This is my best friend—my ride or die.

The one who says “let’s do it” to everything, who is always up for an adventure, and who somehow makes every moment more fun.

She is strong, stubborn (in the best way), and one of the toughest people I know. And if there’s one thing I know for sure—it’s that she is going to fight through this.

But right now, she needs us.

This all started with what seemed like something small—a lump in her neck. At first, she was told it was benign and nothing to worry about.

She went ahead with surgery to have it removed, knowing there were risks because the tumor was wrapped around important nerves. Unfortunately, she did experience facial paralysis after surgery. It has been slowly improving, and we are all hopeful it will continue to get better, but it has still been a very emotional and difficult part of this journey.

When the tumor was sent for further testing, everything changed. What was originally believed to be benign came back as cancer.

Because of how the tumor was intertwined with her nerves, doctors are not confident that every cancer cell was removed. Going back in for another surgery is not a safe option, as it could result in permanent and complete facial paralysis.

Instead, her medical team is moving forward with aggressive radiation treatment to target any remaining cancer cells and prevent it from spreading. This type of cancer can sometimes travel along nerve pathways, which is why she will be undergoing additional testing, including an MRI, to ensure it has not spread.

Due to the location of the treatment, there is also a risk that she may lose some hearing in one ear.

Kelli will be starting 6.5 weeks of daily radiation treatments (Monday to Friday), followed by a difficult recovery. The side effects can make eating very challenging, and if she is unable to maintain her weight, she may require a temporary feeding tube to keep her body strong enough to continue treatment.

Kelli is a single mom of seven and a proud grandma to three. Most of her kids still live at home, including her youngest who will be turning 2.

She has always worked incredibly hard to support her family, often with very little help, and she continues to carry so much on her own.

Her doctor has been honest that this is going to be a tough road ahead—but if there’s one thing about Kelli, it’s that she is strong, stubborn, and ready to take this on head first. And just like she’s always done, she’s not backing down—and neither are we. We’re right here beside her, fighting with her every step of the way.

She will need to take approximately 6 months off work to focus on healing. This means a significant loss of income while her daily expenses continue.

Like many families right now, she was already working hard just to keep up. While she will receive some support through EI during this time, it will only cover a portion of her income. Taking this time off means her income will be significantly reduced, while her responsibilities at home continue—and the added costs of treatment and travel will only make things more difficult.

She will also be traveling to the city every weekday for treatment, adding ongoing costs for fuel, vehicle wear, and day-to-day living needs during this time.

This is going to be a very hard season for her and her family—physically, emotionally, and financially—and she will need support now more than ever.

While on medical leave, her income has been reduced to about 55% through Employment Insurance sickness benefits.

At the same time, she is still responsible for supporting her children and covering everyday living expenses.

In order to maintain her health coverage through Blue Cross, she must now pay the full monthly premium out of pocket, adding even more financial strain during an already difficult time.

Although programs like Pharmacare help with some medication costs, they do not cover many essential treatments and expenses.

We are raising funds to help support Kelli so she can focus on healing and being there for her children without the added stress of financial pressure.

If you are not able to donate, sharing this fundraiser means just as much.

I will be right beside her through all of this. Always.

Thank you for standing with her. ❤️

We’ve got you, Kelli.