Support Eloise's Battle Against Cancer

Everyone knows the word cancer…but nobody is prepared to hear it in the same breath as their child’s name. Eloise has stage 2 B-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma and a large sinus tumor.

Eloise has already had a hospital stay with one round of chemo and has embarked on trips to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, 50 miles from their home in Salem, for treatments twice a week. At some point in the future, the tumor will be removed, and their sinuses will have to be rebuilt. While the prognosis is good, it’s expected to be a long battle.

As a long-time friend of the Gonzales family, my heart aches for them, and I know yours does too. Gerard and Kati are facing the unbearable reality of having to watch their child go through the pain of treatment. Eloise's brother Otis also feels the strain and the concern; he’s worried about his sibling. We’re all wondering what we can do.

We never know exactly how much that final bill will be after insurance, but the treatments could easily total more than 150K out of pocket. This doesn’t include gas to and from those weekly Portland appointments (in Kati’s car that’s running on sheer will at this point). Gerard and Kati are both self-employed, which offers flexibility, but time off work translates to days without pay. Eloise has a loft bed at home which requires climbing in and out of…a struggle when you’ve had a lumbar puncture and feel nauseous. A new bed is a must. And medical supplies? Absolutely. It all adds up.

Eloise will need a lot of support, a lot of love. Please consider what you’re comfortable giving and know that any amount is so appreciated and will be spent keeping this grateful family together and thriving.