Support Gail Root's Battle Against Glioblastoma

Dear Friends, Family, and Kindhearted Strangers,

It is with heavy hearts and immense faith that we reach out to you today to ask for your support for Gail Root, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend who has faced unimaginable challenges over the past year. At 71 years old, Gail is now battling the toughest fight of her life – a diagnosis of grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive and inoperable form of brain cancer. Her family is doing everything in their power to ensure she receives the best care and support during this deeply difficult time, but they cannot do it alone.

Gail's story is one of resilience, love, and unwavering faith. Just over a year ago, she tragically lost her husband and soulmate, a heartbreak that no one is ever truly prepared for. While she navigated the grieving process as a new widow, her health began to decline. At first, family and friends thought it might be a natural part of aging or perhaps grief taking its toll. But over the summer, they began to notice odd behaviors and troubling cognitive decline that couldn't be explained. With Alzheimer's in her family history, it was feared that dementia might be the cause. However, as symptoms worsened, her daughter, Melissa, championed the journey to find answers.

In addition to her health struggles, Gail fell victim to a horrible financial scam. Ruthless telephone scammers preyed on her vulnerability, harassing her incessantly and eventually stealing thousands of dollars through credit card fraud. Despite Melissa’s best efforts to dispute the charges, her claims have been denied, leaving her further financially drained and overwhelmed.

But even more pressing than the financial loss was Gail’s rapidly deteriorating health. She struggled with confusion, anxiety, fatigue, and an inability to carry out daily tasks. By late-August, her condition had worsened to the point that she could no longer work, drive, or live independently. Melissa arranged for memory assessments, and a PET scan was scheduled to find answers. However, on September 7, Gail’s condition took a dramatic turn for the worse. She became extremely lethargic and disoriented. An ambulance transported her to Gulf Coast Medical Center, where she was found to have the flu… a blessing in disguise to start receiving immediate care.

A CT scan revealed a massive brain tumor which was confirmed an hour later by an MRI. She was immediately admitted to the neuro unit, and a craniotomy was performed on September 11 to biopsy the tumor. The worst of fears wear confirmed: Gail had a grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive tumor spanning two lobes deep in her brain. The pathology results were devastating – without treatment, Gail’s prognosis is just 1 to 2 months. With treatment, the median survival is 8 to 15 months.

The family is heartbroken, to say the least, but they have jumped into steadfast action knowing they have to act quickly to give Gail the best possible chance. Through countless complicated, time consuming and frustrating challenges with insurance – after 12 days – Gail was finally released from the hospital on September 19 to a skilled nursing facility, a necessary step to qualify her for Original Medicare. However, due to her pre-existing condition, she is not eligible for a Medigap supplemental plan, leaving her with an overwhelming 20% copay on all medical expenses – without limit.

Unfortunately, the skilled nursing facility does not allow residents to receive cancer treatment while in rehab, so the family had to move Gail into an assisted living facility as soon as her biopsy wound healed. The cost of this care, along with the level of services required, is not covered by insurance. Gail has no savings, no life insurance, no property, and no retirement accounts. This leaves the family solely responsible for covering the costs of a safe and caring facility where Gail can spend her remaining months in a peaceful and positive environment, as well as covering her medical and prescription co-pays.

We are asking for your support today because, above all, Gail deserves to focus on her faith, her family, and the love that surrounds her during this incredibly difficult time. She has two beautiful grandchildren – Radlee (3) and Lennon (2) – who live locally and bring her so much joy, as well as extended family in Indiana who love her dearly.

Coming to terms with the end of her life has been one of the hardest things for Gail to face. As a devoted mother and grandmother, the thought of not being there to watch her grandchildren grow up, to celebrate holidays and milestones, or to share in future family moments weighs heavily on her heart. For someone like Gail who cherishes every moment with her loved ones, this realization is even more painful.

For Gail's family, watching her grapple with these heartbreaking realities has been an unimaginable challenge. Seeing her struggle to comprehend her diagnosis, her diminishing time, and the future she won't get to witness – is emotionally overwhelming. There are moments when Gail asks about plans for the future or talks about watching her grandchildren grow, only for the confusion to set in when the gravity of her situation becomes apparent. Her family is left to gently remind her, over and over, knowing that each explanation brings fresh pain. The hardest part is witnessing the flickers of awareness in her eyes, as she grasps what lies ahead. This constant cycle of hope, confusion, and shattering awareness weighs heavily on those who love her most.

Despite her diagnosis and looming reality, Gail’s spirit continues to shine. Day and night, Gail fills the room with the sweet sounds of her favorite 60s and 70s music. Even in the quiet hours of the night, caregivers often find her awake, softly singing through her tears, her heart and unshakable spirit entwined with the lyrics that have brought her comfort for so many years.

Gail’s daughter, Melissa, has been her rock through this journey, along with the immense support from Gail’s sister, cousin, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and many other relatives and friends. The bond among the entire family has only grown stronger.

It’s with faith, hope, and love that we come together as a community to help this family in their time of need. We are asking for your generosity to help cover the costs of Gail’s care, including assisted living expenses, medical treatments, and prescription co-pays. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a tremendous difference in Gail’s life and help ensure that she has the best chance for the longest, most quality life possible.

Gail is loved by so many, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to make her remaining time purposeful and full of love. Her family is determined to make her remaining time intentional, joyful, and full of positive, happy moments. Please consider donating to help support Gail and her dedicated family as we navigate this heartbreaking journey. Your kindness, prayers, and contributions mean the world.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

With gratitude and faith,

Family & Friends of Gail Root and Melissa Mitchell

Supporters can also contribute via Venmo:

@Melissa-Mitchell-1025