Gayeda & Ronnie: Fighting Cancer Side by Side

Gayeda and Ronnie's lives have taken some tough turns. Gayeda is battling bladder cancer and dealing with severe osteoporosis, which makes her bones incredibly fragile. To add to her struggles, she's also coping with extreme hearing loss. Ronnie, who's been by her side, is facing his own health challenges. He's dealing with diabetes and extremely high blood pressure, which are tough enough on their own. But he's also had to face cancer, and it's taken his sight, leaving him to navigate the world in a way he never expected in his 70s. Both Gayeda and Ronnie have had very long and hard battles with cancer. Ronnie and Gayeda are both 75 years old, and Gayeda still works 40 hours a week on her feet to provide for her family.

Ronnie has two caretakers: Daughter Hope Hammons and Granddaughter Margie Miller. We are the ones making this GoFundMe to raise money to help pay all the endless expenses for Gayeda and Ronnie. Their medical expenses have been beyond overwhelming, and Ronnie requires 24/7 care and is 100% dependent. We want to ensure that every penny donated goes directly to Gayeda and Ronnie, helping them pay for vital medical equipment, clear overdue bills, and cover travel expenses for treatments. It's also about ensuring they can live comfortably during these hard times without the heavy burden of financial stress. Your generosity can lift a huge weight off their shoulders, allowing them to concentrate on what's most important: their health and each other. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference in their lives, giving them access to the care they so urgently need. We're deeply thankful for any support you can offer. Whether it's a donation or simply sharing this campaign with your network, it all helps. Thank you for showing your kindness, generosity, and love for Gayeda and Ronnie. Together, we can help ease their burden and show them they are not alone in this fight.

Medical Details:

Back in 2017, Ronnie had a palm-sized melanoma on his back that was removed, but unfortunately, it wasn't completely gone. Over time, it spread throughout his body, affecting his back, head, chest, and left ankle, with new spots popping up often. Ronnie also has cancerous spots in his liver, lungs, bones, and almost all his surrounding organs. It's a constant battle, which is why he undergoes chemo infusions every 28 days and is monitored very closely by a team of specialists. In March 2022, Ronnie had to undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor, and he's been fighting colon cancer that was diagnosed over 30 years ago. It's been a long and challenging journey for him. The pressure from the brain tumor on his optic nerves sadly caused him to lose his sight completely by October 2022. Can you imagine? After having sight for 73 years, it's been an incredibly tough blow for him.

Not being able to walk on his own has also made him feel disconnected from himself and the world. He has had to stop doing many of the things he has enjoyed his whole life, like driving, traveling on his Harley, gardening, going on hikes, taking care of his home, tending to outside work, cooking, hunting, fishing, and the one he says he misses the very most is seeing his family. The loss of his sight has taken a toll on Ronnie's mental health. Some days, he wakes up feeling hopeless about life. We've been relying on our faith and the endless prayers from our loved ones to keep us going. We try to fill Ronnie with hope that his sight will return, but it's been a struggle for him to come to terms with this profound loss.

Managing Ronnie's health requires the expertise of many specialists, like the endocrinologist, otolaryngologist, neurologist, nephrologist, ophthalmologist, and cardiologist. On top of that, he regularly sees his oncologist for his cancer treatment. Physical therapy and visits to his primary doctor are also part of his routine to manage his overall health. As his family, we've witnessed a gradual decline in his health and quality of life over the years.

In his current state, he isn’t able to do anything by himself. He struggles more every day to function. He can’t stand on his own or feed himself. He is disoriented and confused and needs constant reassurance of where he is, who is around him, and what is happening. He just got out of the hospital, where we discovered bone cancer was rapidly progressing and taking over his left arm, as well as a stroke he had that pushed him to be in such a severe state. We, as his family, prioritize his comfort over everything and aim to do absolutely anything to ease the pain he is in, both physically and mentally.

For over twenty years, Gayeda has shown remarkable courage in her battle with cancer. With unwavering resilience, she endures a bladder scope every three months to monitor her condition. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, late in 2021, just as we were coming to terms with Ronnie's condition, Gayeda's bladder tragically burst, necessitating an extended hospital stay. Now, our travels to Lexington have doubled as we seek the best specialists and treatments for both Gayeda and Ronnie.

Gayeda's challenges don't end with cancer. She grapples with severe osteoporosis, a condition that has greatly affected her mobility and strength. Additionally, she lives with legal deafness, adding another layer to her daily struggles. Despite these obstacles, her spirit remains unbreakable. Physically and emotionally weary, she still shines brightly—a beacon of hope and benevolence. Her kindness, selflessness, and loving nature are boundless. To meet Gayeda and Ronnie is to be touched by their light forever.

Financial Information:

It's heartbreaking to share this, but Ronnie's medical journey has sent our bills through the roof. The cost of his chemo treatments is a staggering $78,000 a month, and even with insurance shouldering most of it, the out-of-pocket expenses are piling up. Right now, Ronnie's overdue medical bills are at a jaw-dropping $879,000 and climbing every month. The trips back and forth from London to Lexington for his care are draining our finances like you wouldn't believe. We've had to take out a loan to get a wheelchair-accessible van for these weekly doctor visits. And it doesn't stop there. We're paying out-of-pocket every month for medical equipment, and there's still more that we need. Ronnie and Gayeda are drowning in unpaid bills. They've had to sell everything they hold dear to afford their medication, which, even with insurance, costs us $578 every month. And with Gayeda having to miss work to be by Ronnie's side, their financial struggle has only deepened. It's a lot, and it's tough to ask, but any help you can give would mean the world to us. It's not just about the money—it's about giving two people a fighting chance without the weight of financial ruin hanging over them.

Please join us in supporting this extraordinary couple whose love and strength inspire all who know them. We're deeply thankful for any support you can offer. Whether it's a donation or simply sharing this campaign with your network, it all helps. Thank you for showing your kindness, generosity, and love for Gayeda and Ronnie. Any kind words we could read to Ronnie would greatly lift his spirits, and we ask for anyone reading this to pray for them. We appreciate anyone who is keeping up with their journey, and we hold close to us all the well wishes we get. Thank you for your time!