Kiva Needs Our Help

On April 3rd my sister Kiva had a CT scan to assess the status of her metastatic colon cancer and the results were not good. Unfortunately the colon cancer has spread to her liver, and to the lymph nodes right next to her liver. The recent chemo treatments she has been on have not been working.

Her doctor said in a few months she could start feeling the cancer – they would do what they could to manage the pain – and that she has about a year left.

We are not surprised the cancer spread. We have made many phone calls, done research and have asked all the right questions. At this time, there are no trials available that she is eligible for. Surgery is not an option because of where the tumors are – not just in the liver, but the ones in her stomach that have been there for a while now.

Kiva is a fighter and a bright light. After the initial fear and shock she (we) came to a place of acceptance.

Here are her own words:  “I don’t want any of the 'Poor Kiva' or 'Oh my God, I’m so sorry' from anyone. I want love and support and laughter and silliness. I want jokes, and music and animals and nature. I want to celebrate the almost 46 years of my amazing life, and not think of this as the end. My human life may be ending sooner than I thought, but I plan on living out my days in positivity. This is my life now, and I am not going to let sadness and fear be my focus.”

Our focus right now is to move Kiva closer to me in NJ. She wants to spend time with Belle (her niece) and also be closer to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC and in NJ. There’s one about half an hour from where I live.

The goal is get her moved down here within the next two months. The money we raise will be used to move, for rent and for living expenses and for medical care that her insurance doesn’t cover. It will also go to her end of life expenses. We understand it’s not the best time to do a Go Fund Me, with a pandemic going on and such. So please, please don’t do anything that will cause financial risk. That’s the last thing any of us want. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Stay safe and healthy. ]

With love,
Dawn