Help Bonnie: Fund for ex-teacher w/ stage 4 Cancer

Bonnie Gordon is an ex-Montessori Preschool teacher of 30 years not quite ready to give up living the last months of her life. This benefit is to gift her quality time with her daughter & grandsons who live abroad as well as help raise her income above poverty level for more comfort in face of this hardship. Since no longer being able to work, Bonnie lives on $98 a month after rent is paid.  

My mother is battling stage 4 metastatic cancer an ocean away from me...  the doctors say she has 3-4 more months. I love her and am asking for support for her remaining life, so she can see us more and we can make some dreams come true! Bonnie devoted her life to education and I am grateful for every single cent of help that comes back her way.

After a scare a couple weeks ago with heavy bleeding from her bladder, her condition has stabilised.  We will post updates as things develop.


Here is what I am requesting donations for Asap:

-- Disneyland with grandchildren and a 2-night hotel stay!!
Four 2-day tickets &  2-nights Disneyland Hotel, Total —> $2265

-- Weekly care-service, 4-6 hours per week: cleaning, dog-walking, meals, transportation, housekeeping, shopping.  $30/hour Total 3 months —> $1800
** (She only can receive hospice care from medicare once she stops taking chemo... and she still wants to fight and try one new medication!)

-- Trip to California in October 2019 for her daughter and grandsons 
Three tickets Berlin to Germany $2600, rental car 15 days $640, airbnb accommodations with Bonnie 5 nights $600, Total —> $3840

-- Trip for Bonnie to Berlin, Germany (health dependent) for Christmas  —> $2,000

-- Burial costs/transportation costs providing the means to spend the end of her life in Berlin. Bonnie wants to die in Berlin with her daughter. Cremation and air shipment back to the US approx 3,800-5000€ on top of burial costs in-state.
Approx total—> $4737


About Bonnie

A current resident of Solvang , California and previous resident of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Santa Monica... a teacher, traveler, music-lover and quilter Bonnie has been fighting Stage 4, metastatic Breast Cancer since October 2016.  The disease has now spread to her abdominal wall, pelvis, bladder, kidneys and possibly bones and she is reaching the final stages.  She has been through approximately 6 different chemos, 9 operations and months and months of excruciating pain, exhaustion, and nausea.  Her daughter and grandchildren live in Berlin, Germany and she doesn't have any close friends nearby nor contact with any other remaining family members.  She often has to drive herself to and from medical appointments & procedures, cook and clean for herself and deals with everything unassisted.  

Nonetheless, she wakes up every morning and makes the most of every day... She paints, gets out and cares for her Golden Retriever Maya, and sends loving packages and cards to her grandsons in Germany.  For every new baby from friends or family she makes a beautiful quilt. She is personal and charming to all and greets doctors, medical workers and everyone she comes across with smiles, sweet words and honesty.  On days when she is not too sick she does pushups and ballet exercises while blasting Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell or her new favourite, "Soul Majestic" a local Santa Barbara band who gifted her a ticket to see them at a festival (thank you!! You made her year!) 

Bonnie embodies living life to its fullest. But her biggest joy is, by far, “her boys”, her two grandsons in Germany, Anton (9) and Casper (5) whom she has only gotten to see a handful of times over the last 9 years. She manages her life living only off food stamps and social security covering rent. She is frugal and saves every penny for materials for gifts but cannot afford such daily luxuries as going out to eat or to the movies, or sometimes even gas to drive to visit friends. 

Bonnie has a few amazing friends that have helped her a great deal and I am so grateful for every visit or meal out! Now I want to do all I can to help call on a larger circle of community and friends. If you would like to help support Bonnie, please donate!