Medical Funds For Deb

Dear Friends and Family,

Last summer, a few families gathered together in our friend Deb’s house to celebrate the end of the school year with a pot-luck brunch. Moms, dads, a beloved teacher and five soon-to-be high school seniors ate, drank, and most of all shared stories, laughter and joy.  We can still feel the June sun on our backs, hear the tranquil sound of the water fountain and smell the beautiful red roses growing in Deb’s yard. It is in times like this when we realize that we are blessed to be sharing the journey of life with such loving and genuinely beautiful human beings.

A few weeks later, Deb shared the news with us. With her signature calmness she told us that she had just been diagnosed with a rapidly growing melanoma. At first, we were hopeful that the surgery and new immunotherapy treatments would be successful. But it’s been a year, our daughters just graduated high school last week, and unfortunately, Deb just found out that her cancer has spread to her lungs and liver.

Deb has limited treatment options. After much researching, she has opted to try alternative therapy that has been shown to be effective for others in her situation. We pray this will give her mind and body the best chance for recovery.  Deb is considering three different programs between Arizona and Mexico. Depending on the final selection, the cost will be between $40,000 to $72,000. Plus she already has medical bills from the past year’s expenses.

As many of you know, Deb is a single mom of modest means with two beautiful daughters. The older one, Camille, already in graduate school and the younger one, Carli, about to leave for college as a freshman in the Fall.  Deb doesn’t have the luxury of time to earn funds to pay for this therapy. We need to act fast.

We need to raise $70,000 by July 21st so she can enroll in a therapy program. Every dollar you give will go directly to Deb so she can start her treatment. We, as her friends and fellow moms, ask that you stretch and give as much as you can. And please also share this fundraiser as widely as you can through family, friends and social media.

We thank all of you who donate to Deb’s medical fund and for those who share this fundraiser with others. Deb is a wonderful friend, an amazing mother and a gift in every way to this world. Her friends and family are all hopeful that the treatment she receives from the funds raised here will enable her to continue to bless her family, friends and the world with her unique gifts for many more years to come.

With much gratitude,

Beka, Cara, Chi-lin, Darshi, Lili, Linda and Louise
(Friends of Debra Johnston)