Just before July 4th this year, Gina was diagnosed with stage IV cancer.

On July 6th she shared a post on her Instagram with photos of herself and her daughter, and this caption...

Our lives changed this past week

We are still in shock

I have been diagnosed with cancer

We are clinging

To one another

To hope

To courage

To prayer

I'm not ready to leave my people so we're going to fight like we've never fought before

My mission is to show her (her daughter) that we cry when we are sad & we laugh when we are joyful & that these two can coexist

We live

Every day

We live

Let's not be sad. Let's live with everything inside of us.

Let's live until we squeeze every last drop out of the fruit of life.

Now go hug your people and tell them what you love about them...

I wanted to share a piece of Gina's writing because it's the only way I felt I could best provide a look at the type of person she is.

She is a mother of two, a wife, daughter, sister, a new grandmother, a wonderful friend, a gifted counselor, a child of God, and so much more.

She is passionate, creative, and cares so deeply for others.

Gina has been a substance abuse counselor at Halo Counseling Center for almost 3 years. She planned to continue her education this Fall but was unable to start because of her health; the unpredictable side effects of chemo therapy. She continued working until it became too much and she had to pull back. Our office has not been the same without her. Her clients miss her. We miss her.

Gina brought hope, love, laughter, and truth into treatment groups and sessions every week. She would share her personal journey and listen to the journeys of others without judgement. She would often speak on her belief that people are resilient and so capable of recovering from whatever it is that pains them.

I believe resilience doesn't fall far from where life has brought her in this moment.

Gina is a fighter, and she has countless others standing with her, following her into this battle for her life.

I've been working with Gina for almost 3 years. I'm creating this gofundme because the treatment for cancer is not cheap, and the last thing a person should have to worry about when fighting for their life is, "How can we afford this?".

I don't know how far this will go or how many people it'll reach, but any amount will help to make a difference. The goal we've set is just a starting point, we hope to blow that number out of the water.

So much love and blessings to all of you.

Hug the ones you love and let them know how important they are to you. You never know what life will bring from one moment to the next.

<3 Please send prayers to Gina and her family.

**If you are unable to donate but have your own story about recovery, substance use, cancer, or otherwise, we would love for you to share that story with us through our Halo Counseling Center facebook page.