Hello Everyone!

 Thank you for taking the time to read this. My name is Stephanie and I have taken on the initiative to create this go fund me for my cousin and her family. My cousin Kimmy, put up a huge fight against cancer! She even beat it and we celebrated. Unfortunately months later, she found out that not only has it come back, but there is nothing more they can do. As we pray for a miracle and know how powerful God is, we are trying to make the best of the time we have left. If you know Kimmy, then there hasn’t been a moment where she hasn’t made you smile or feel loved. She has a special heart that not many have. She is always filled with love and gratitude. Even through this journey she has worried more about her family and friends than herself. She would do anything for her family and friends. It is time we do something for her. I have created this go fund me to help pay for any future expenses that may come up with her medical and or funeral, and help with her mortgage payments so it’s not all on Kristin. (Kristin happily does it, but if we can help, I know it will make it easier for her to spend time with Kimmy) I have also set this up to help Kim and her family complete Kim’s bucket list. As you know traveling is not cheap, especially when you are with family. This sweet beautiful woman was asked what she wanted on her bucket list and her first thought was whatever her family wanted because she likes seeing them happy. We have gotten her to think of things she would like to do. Kim deserves to accomplish as much as she can on her bucket list. She deserves to make as many memories as possible with the people she loves. I know this is hard and we are all hurting for her and the family. Some of us have even felt anger. We feel helpless. It’s ok to feel the way that we do, it is part of the process. But Kimmy wouldn’t want us to get stuck there. She wants us to live life to its fullest and take in all of the joys in life. The best way we can help her right now is with prayer, love, support, and with this go fund me! There is no amount too small. Every dollar helps! Please help me support our family and Kimmy and help make her bucket list dreams come true. Please continue to pray for Kimmy and the family. Pray for strength, comfort, wisdom, and healing. We pray for a miracle as well as the ability to cherish every moment she has left.

I would love to surpass our goal so everything is covered and Kim’s family can join her on all of her bucket list adventures! 

Here is a list of what she needs and what's on her bucket list so far:

Medical bills that may come up

Any additional funeral expenses

Her mortgage

Help with transportation funds going back and forth to Salt Lake

Walt Disney World

Club 33 at Disneyland

A cruise with her family

Six the musical

Kimmy's Story- written by Kimmy:

Stories. I have loved stories since I was old enough to pick up a book and create my own based on the illustrations I saw. I became part of worlds that invoked a desire for adventures, mysteries, drama, and even a little magic.

Through all the twists and turns I valiantly encountered with multitudes of characters, I could never have been prepared for the twist my own life would receive.

In the Spring and Summer of 2021, life was as normal as one would expect. My mother was

getting ready to retire from teaching, our family was planning on partying all summer long and I

was tirelessly working at Hobby Lobby.

Due to my many hours of working and how tired I was, I completely thought that the earaches and sinus issues were from a sinus infection that I wasn’t giving my body time to defeat. Doctors would keep writing prescriptions to help, but nothing seemed to work.

One afternoon in July, we were hanging out at my parents when my sister gave me the

strangest look. She asked me to stare at her straight on, I did, and almost immediately she noted

that one side of my neck was bulging out more than the other. Another look from my mother

confirmed that there was indeed a difference and the decision was made to get it checked out.

An MRI and a biopsy later confirmed my worst fear: cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 4, group 3 of Rhabdomyosarcoma 2 days before my 30th birthday It was determined the tumor started at the base of my neck and twisted its way into my face. The root of my never-ending sinus and ear infections. My doctor immediately suggested I go straight to Huntsman Cancer Institute where he would send the results of my tests.

Best decision ever! Huntsman was the godsend our family needed for what would be a two year

battle. From day 1, Dr. Chalmers was in for the fight. She told me how aggressive this cancer was and her intent was to be just as aggressive right back at it.

Over the course of 10 months I under went 33 sessions of radiation and 42 sessions of

chemotherapy and a few scary stays in the Huntsman’s Hospital. In June of 2022, I was told I was in remission, but would stay on chemo maintenance meds for a few months and continue to get scans over the next year to keep an eye on things

As a family we spent the summer, fall and into winter celebrating, until in January 2023 they

discovered 2 new cancer growths on my spine and thigh. Another 5 sessions of radiation was

ordered and it was successful! My next scan following those sessions showed those areas were

cleared. Life began to go back to normal for myself and my family, but unfortunately it was short

lived.

Personal Story

The morning of February 23, 2023, I woke up and was getting ready for work. My phone rang and someone from the HR department of my employer had called to clear up the last bit of information of me returning to work and ending my leave. While on the phone, I became confused, unable to process words or to speak, the HR employee became concerned and offered to call 911. I was apparently able to finally tell her my mom was coming.

Just at that moment my mom arrived at my house and took the phone from me, and the decision was made to drive me immediately to the emergency room. It was determined that I had suffered a kind of seizure, but the cause was unknown. I was put in an ambulance and taken up to the University of Utah Hospital, and a scan of my brain showed that I had radiation necropsy from the 33 sessions of radiation that had been aimed at my head.

I underwent brain surgery to remove the necropsy and brain swelling on March 23, 2023 and it

was successful and recovery has gone fairly well. While I get to show off my epic scar, there have been a few side effects, which I am still dealing with today. There are times my balance is off and I struggle to either form sentences or recall words. But the benefits of that surgery far outweigh the hard work of physical and speech therapy I do to help with recovery.

Finally a month after my surgery I went in for one more scan to see how everything was

progressing and the answer we received was one we had hoped never to hear. The cancer is back and has spread through my bones from the neck to my knees. My doctor said they could try to do high doses of chemo, but that would have me be in the hospital every other day for blood transfusions. And sadly the outcome would not change. I am terminal.

I have been given months to a year to enjoy the time I have left and to finish my story. A story that I want to end surrounded by my family and friends along with the memories of my final epic

adventures in this life