Dear friends, family, and kindhearted supporters,

We are 26 months past Betty’s breast cancer diagnosis and 18 months since her last day of radiation treatment. While we are deeply grateful to be on the other side of active cancer treatment, the challenges of survivorship have become too heavy for us to manage alone.

Since surgery and treatment, Betty has been living with lymphedema, a chronic, lifelong condition that can occur when the lymphatic system is damaged by cancer, surgery, or radiation. At first, the swelling affected her chest and trunk, and with time and care she managed to control it. But this past spring, the lymphedema progressed into her right hand, palm, and arm — her dominant side, and the one she depends on most for her to work.

The onset of this new disease has been devastating. Instead of resuming work, she is facing new challenges to her mobility, daily exercises in pain-management, and the exhausting process of learning to live with a disease that requires ongoing, and costly care.

The time, energy, and expense of managing lymphedema — combined with the endless fight for insurance approvals — have made it extremely difficult for Betty to work this summer. As many of you know, she runs E. Putnam Studio, the only taxidermy studio in Seattle, and takes great pride in her craft. But with limited use of her hand and the heavy burden of care, her income has been severely reduced.

While the financial impact of cancer treatment was expected, we did not anticipate these new obstacles and barriers to care in survivorship.

We continue to be moved by the love and generosity shown since Betty’s diagnosis. With your help, we can ease the financial strain of ongoing medical expenses, travel to specialists, and the costs of specialized compression garments and other essential treatments.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. It allows Betty to focus less on financial survival and more on her health, healing, and her work. If you cannot give at this time, please consider sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing by Betty and for being part of her continued recovery.