PLEASE SUPPORT LIZ GARRISS DURING CANCER TREATMENT

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” ~Coretta Scott King

Since the first day I met my dear friend, Liz Garriss, she has exemplified this philosophy of compassion and action in her community of Northwest Arkansas and beyond. In over thirty years of friendship and what became known around town as “The Liz & Angie Show,” we amassed several lifetimes of memories filled with joy, love, and laughter. Anybody remember those Mud Wrestling parties? ;) During those years, I witnessed her selflessly and enthusiastically care for friends, family, and strangers in need. And she continues unwavering in her calling to make the world a kinder, brighter, and more colorful place with her beautiful voice and thoughtful spirit.

Today, on behalf of Liz Garriss, our friend, neighbor, and songbird who is now in need, I sympathetically ask for a compassionate call to action in return from her cherished community.

On August 10th, after experiencing severe back pain for weeks, Liz was taken by ambulance to the hospital after she became unable to walk. Since then, she has remained bedridden and searching for answers and relief. Last week, she received a heartbreaking diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that causes a myriad of medical issues and conditions that can affect your bones, kidneys, and your body’s ability to make healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. Multiple myeloma can also affect the vertebrae in your spine, causing them to collapse and press on your spinal cord, which is why Liz has not been able to walk or sit up for over two weeks now. Affecting about 7 out of 100,000 people each year, there is no known cure for multiple myeloma. However, Liz’s medical team has stated that they are optimistic they can treat the related conditions and symptoms and slow its progress to help her live as long as possible while improving her quality of life. Either way, it’s not easy living with cancer that doesn’t go away or may come back. Living with cancer means living with treatment and tests that will always be part of your life.

As of today, August 26th, Liz is currently at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, awaiting transfer to Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville (hopefully tomorrow!), where she will have surgery to remove the compressed vertebrae that are inhibiting her ability to walk or move. After that, her treatment journey will continue with several months of radiation and chemotherapy.

As a single mother of a teenage son, Liz has worked for the last two years at the St. Francis House as a case manager for homeless veterans and veterans at imminent risk of homelessness while also working through a Master’s Program in Social Work. True to her code of compassionate action, she has had a longtime goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker and therapist. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the current semester and take a leave of absence from her job due to her cancer diagnosis and future treatments.

While she feels fortunate that insurance will cover the majority of her medical bills, the next several months without an income are a weight and worry that no one should have to navigate alone during a time when health and healing are most important. Any amount of money, small or large, to help Liz cover her living expenses would provide much-needed mental and emotional relief during this challenging phase of her life and would mean more to her than you know.

Lots of love and gratitude to you all…

Sincerely,

Angela Stem aka "Shug"

A Forever Friend