Kendra's Breast Cancer Fund

I'm Stu Rettke- Kendra's father, and I am the creator of this campaign. She is going to get through all of this but needs some financial assistance. I am hoping that she will get the assistance she needs within the next 30-60 days. The following was written by my beautiful daughter.


I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2020 at the age of 25. I underwent genetic testing, and have no family history of breast cancer, and no genetic flaws. Doctors have no answer as to why I have breast cancer.

I went into the walk-in clinic because I had a sore rib, and wanted to have them check it out. During my walk-in visit, I ended up being immediately sent over for an ultrasound, mammogram, and then biopsy, all within the same day. Then it became an anxious waiting game. Two days later, I got the call confirming that my breast mass and lymph node were both HER-2 positive cancerous masses.

I have decided to join a clinical trial that allows me to receive a lesser dose of chemotherapy, in hopes that it will decrease the mass size without having to do as much harm to my body. All information is provided to a research group that studies HER-2 positive breast cancer. I chose to do the trial to help others in the future who are diagnosed with the same type of cancer along with the hopes of doing less harms to women's bodies.

I receive a Lupron shot every month which essentially has put me into menopause at the age of 25. The purpose is to preserve my eggs in hopes that I will be able to conceive after my treatment is complete. (Who would have thought I’d get to go through menopause twice in my life ). The hot flashes are intense.

I will have twelve weeks of chemotherapy (which I have started and am on week 7. I was sent home during week 4 due to low white blood cell count, but they are not planning to have me make that up).

Once my chemo is complete, I will undergo surgery (yet to be decided if I will get a lumpectomy or mastectomy). After surgery I may have to do eight more weeks of chemotherapy if they think it is necessary.

I will also receive three months of radiation therapy, and a full year of HER-2 IV therapy. This is to hopefully get rid of any cells that may be cancerous that have been missed during surgery.

I have been working part time at my job when I am feeling strong enough to do so. My work has been extremely understanding and helpful throughout this journey.

I have a long road ahead of me, but I have decided to take this cancer head on. My boyfriend (Frank) proposed to me on December 19, 2020. When I am cured and healthy we hope to get married in the Fall of 2022 (if Covid permits this).

I never thought at 25 something like this would happen to me, but I am lucky to have a great team at work, family and friends who support me, and a loving fiancé.

The reason I am asking for your generosity is because I have a high deductible insurance plan. Due to the timing of my diagnosis, I will have to reach my maximum out of pocket deductible twice within four months. I will have accumulated $5,000 in medical bills and will accumulate another $5,000 in the next two months, not to mention any other incidentals along the way that insurance will not cover.

Wish me luck through the rest of this! Thank you!