Missy Baatz's Battle With Breast Cancer

Hello friends,

My wife, the strongest person I know, Missy, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. While it was a lot for her to process and accept, it is in the early stages. With hopeful hearts and a big will to fight, we are ready for this battle. She will undergo a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, starting just after her birthday. We feel blessed that the odds are in our favor.

Working for years as a nurse, Missy is all about helping others and going the extra mile for those in need. Now it is time for me to be her helper and nurse, going the extra mile for the love of my life in any way possible. We believe her body will respond well to the treatments, with Missy's healthy lifestyle and hobbies helping her recover.

Unfortunately, this battle has financial side effects that are just not as easy to fight against. I am starting this page hoping to alleviate even just some of the lost wages, and financial burden breast cancer comes with. While it is not lost on me that these burdens are ours to fight, we hope to be blessed with the kindness of others. Giving Missy the chance to focus on her body and recovery, instead of worrying and stressing about finances.

Missy's GoFundMe page is about helping her with out-of-pocket expenses and the loss of income during her surgery and treatments. Missy's surgery and chemotherapy will take place in South Dakota where our health insurance will cover the highest cost, and we have a fantastic family to help us in any way they can.

(UPDATE/EDIT - 09/25/2022:) We want to say thank you to each and every person for your blessings, kindness, sharing of our GoFundMe, and donations. We have been able to cover our out-of-pocket expenses so far which is so amazing. Missy starts chemotherapy soon so we are focusing on her health and well-being. That means ordering her cold therapy mitts and socks, lotions, creams, and medications for her treatments that insurance does not cover. One possible side effect of the type of chemo she needs is life-long neuropathy in the limbs. We have to do everything we can to prevent that. Missy and I are both staying positive and trying to take one day at a time. Thanks and much love to everyone. Once Missy starts chemo and we understand how it will affect her body, we will move forward with looking for short-term transportation and housing. One hurdle at a time.

During our stay for treatments, we will both be away from our work in South Carolina. We will possibly need short-term housing, and once the winter season arrives, we will need to look into rental cars to get Missy to chemotherapy. With the blessing of others, I would love to get Missy items like cold caps, cooling gloves and socks. These garments help with the discomfort and pain that comes with chemotherapy.

WE UNDERSTAND everyone does not have the resources to donate.