Kellie Prinz-Cancer Warrior

Kayleen Welbourn is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Kellie Prinz.

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Kellie is currently battling an aggressive and rare cancer in her sinuses (see below for full story). Less than 2,000 people a year nationwide get this cancer. The only treatment option for this rare cancer is in Seattle. Kellie and her family will have to relocate for 7 weeks. The cost of housing in Seattle over the summer is a big financial barrier. After exhausting the list of options from the cancer center, Kellie was able to find a small Airbnb that fits their needs. Kellie has mentioned that so many kind friends, family and acquaintances have been asking how they can help. She humbly is asking for that help now to assist in covering costs while in Seattle. Housing alone for that amount of time is $10, 000. Any amount, small or large, is greatly appreciated!!

Thank you for helping Kellie and her family have a comfortable place to stay while she fights this nasty tumor!

SEE BELOW FOR THE STORY OF KELLIE’S CANCER

-Sincerely, Kayleen Welbourn (huge fan and support crew for Kellie)

From Kellie:

In November, I had a head cold. After it went away my left nasal passage didn’t clear up. Figured it was a sinus infection. So I got on an antibiotic and steroid pack, it didn’t help. Called my primary and asked to be referred to an ENT. The ENT looked in my left nostril and saw a mass, he said it didn’t look like a polyp and was much larger and misshaped. I was put on more antibiotics. Imaging was ordered which happened on March 7th with an MRI, followed by a CT scan on March 11th.

I was starting to feel more miserable, especially after getting Covid and going up in elevation snowmobiling in the mountains. Monday, March 11th, I was about to call my ENT to get me in sooner than my original follow up appointment, but he called me to come in….

The MRI revealed the “mass” was massive. Taking up all the sinus cavity space on my left side. The mass was pushing into my eye and near my brain. It is a tumor the ENT informed us, a large and aggressive one. After a biopsy and CT, it was confirmed the tumor is cancerous. The CT revealed the tumor has eaten half the bone around my left eye, eaten the bone on one side of the skull where my brain sits, my septum is gone, and most concerning it’s proximity to my carotid artery where it was eating away the bone.

An immediate referral to OHSU with a diagnosis of SNUC (Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma). With a rare and aggressive disease a specialist was needed right away. He immediately connected me to a care team in Bend, and his OHSU experience could guide the process. Now we are on the road to kicking this things butt!!!