Stand with Angie: Overcoming Cancer

Angie Krauss needs our help.

In August of 2024, Angie was officially diagnosed with stage three esophageal cancer. When her esophagus became completely closed, an esophageal stent was required so she could eat. In early September, she began four FLOT chemo treatments, one every two weeks.

Through all her cancer stages and treatments, Angie has worked full-time nursing in Farmington, New Mexico. Until now, she managed her everyday expenses plus 2024’s $9,500 insurance deductible.

Angie’s work ethic and love of life are remarkable. She put herself through nursing school, graduating as COVID broke out. Angie began her nursing career in Farmington, NM, where the rate of COVID per capita exceeded national averages. With her can-do spirit and positive attitude, she went to work tirelessly helping patients fight the deadly disease.

Angie is an equine enthusiast. When she was introduced to the Californio bridle horse system, she immediately embraced the style. She is known for her joy and determination to become a better horsewoman. She was working hard toward those goals when her mare sustained a leg injury that may require surgery and when Angie received her cancer diagnosis.

Angie’s biggest battle is yet to come. She is scheduled for major high-risk surgery in Salt Lake City at Huntsman Cancer Center. Two surgeons will be needed, one to bisect her stomach and put a feeding tube in. The second surgeon will remove the tumor and rebuild an esophagus with part of her stomach. The surgery will take six to ten hours. It is expected Angie will be in ICU for two to three days, then moved to another floor for an additional three to five days. After her release, she will be required to stay in a hotel near the hospital in Salt Lake City for a week to make sure she has healed correctly, as it would be life-threatening if there were a leak. Once it is determined Angie is on the mend, she will start another round of chemo one month after surgery.

Angie has managed to be a nurse full-time and has stayed on top of the expenses associated with her cancer treatments. Angie’s “nest egg” has been used up, she has one week of sick time left, and the cancer surgery will keep her out of work for at least three months. January 1st, she will be faced with another out-of-pocket $9,500 insurance deductible. Angie has dedicated her life to helping others. She now needs our help! We hope to raise $30,000 to help Angie with her immediate living expenses plus enough to put her mind at ease and give her a good start in 2025.