Kelly's Circle of Healing

From Kelly’s sister, Shannon:

As many of you know my sister, Kelly, is a breast cancer survivor whose journey sadly endures.

Here is her story:

Kelly’s cancer is extremely aggressive and driven by estrogen (96% fed by estrogen). She first got diagnosed in 2017 with stage 2a breast cancer. She had a bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, multiple breast reconstructive surgeries, etc., and struggled through Tamoxifen, an estrogen blocking medical, for 6 years to reduce her chances of reoccurrence (which by the way was only 16%). She had finally re-found herself in fall 2023 after having an ovary removed and being granted a Tamoxifen holiday. She was 5+ years out! She was doing great! She felt good. Looked good. She was back! And happy.

This past December she found a lump in her underarm, and by January 2024 was diagnosed with stage 3 metastatic breast cancer. We were (are) all shocked and completely devastated and heartbroken. It’s considered a local recurrence, thankfully, so chances of survival are significantly higher than if it were a distance recurrence.

Her Treatment Plan:

She has already completed surgery to remove the cancer from her lymph nodes and pectoral muscle, had a full lymphatic dissection, and received a lymphatic bypass (reconstruction) to reduce chances of lymphedema. Her team at MSK are incredible and very hopeful. Right now there is “no sign of cancer” but they have to be aggressive in keeping even microscopic cancer cells from having an opportunity to grow somewhere else.

Kel started a heavier chemo cocktail (AC-T) this week (March 20th). If she can stay on schedule she’ll finish late July, have 4 weeks to recover, and then will go directly into radiation for 6 weeks daily. The radiation will sadly destroy her one breast implants so she will then have to do reconstructive surgery again. She came so far, but is back at square one. It’s overwhelming and extremely emotional for all of us. I can’t believe my incredible Sister will have to endure this long and worse road AGAIN.

She will also be put back on an estrogen blocking medication (which induces depression and anxiety and a bunch of other nasty unmanageable side effects), may have her other ovary removed, and will require oral chemo for life. Being metastatic breast cancer, she’s now going to have to learn how to live with cancer.

Why we could use your help:

Kelly is a 9th grade special education teacher and loves her job. She is surrounded by such extremely helpful and caring coworkers, students, and loving communities. Her colleagues are her second family, carrying her and her boys along with a meal train, a wig fund, ice cream runs, and lots of love. We are beyond grateful for them.

Financially speaking, FMLA and sick days will only carry her so far. Then her paychecks will stop and she’ll need to switch to COBRA again. She’ll no longer have flex spending to help cover her acupuncture, chiropractic care, Bowen therapy, or her integrative oncologist — all integral parts of a holistic treatment plan to help alleviate some of the awful side effects so that treatments can remain on schedule. Her husband, Mark, was also getting ready to have knee surgery at the beginning of 2024 which has been delayed but needs to happen at some point as well.

Kelly and Mark have two amazing boys. This is the second time they will have to go through their mother’s cancer during their childhood. It’s not fair. We are doing everything we can to support them, but this is tough and heartbreaking.

Bottom line, we would do anything for her and her family. We are doing all that we can, and this includes asking for your love and prayers and to consider supporting her financially if you are in a position to do so. She’s worth it. And if you are more comfortable donating to Kel’s Venmo directly, which is how she’s been funding her alternative care, she is at @Kelly-Ingraham-1

Whether you can help financially or not, please consider helping us by sharing this GoFundMe.

Sending you all light and love as well,

~Shannon, Kel’s sister

~Dan + Deb, Kel’s parents