At just 34 years old, Kailani has received a devastating diagnosis: stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
This news has shaken Kai and everyone who loves her to the core.
Kai is one of the most active, adventurous, and vibrant people you could ever meet. To see someone so full of life facing something so serious is both shocking and heartbreaking for her family, friends, and community.
While metastatic breast cancer is not curable, it is treatable. Kai is about to begin the fight of her life and will require ongoing, aggressive treatment for the rest of her life. Because of her diagnosis and new enrollment in Medicaid, she is unable to work much and once treatment begins, likely not at all due to the severe side effects. Our goal is to help relieve the financial stress so she can focus on healing, managing treatment, and living.
No one deserves to live in poverty in order to access medical care. And no 34 year old should be this sick.
If Kai’s story helps even one person advocate for themselves, then sharing it is worth it.
A couple of years ago, Kai noticed a lump in her breast. She mentioned it during a routine visit for birth control and was told she was “too young” for a mammogram. The following year, she went to the ER with excruciating back pain and told the doctor it felt like her kidneys were failing. He imaged her lungs to check for pneumonia, even though she presented no symptoms. When she challenged this she was told by the doctor “I’ve had flu that made me feel like I was hit by a train”. She was then told she had the flu and sent home with ibuprofen.
Months later, her breast began to turn black. She saw a primary care provider who said he was confident it wasn’t cancer and once again told her she was too young for imaging. Feeling defeated and dismissed, she trusted what she was told.
Over the past year, Kai has endured worsening symptoms she couldn’t make sense of, severe pain, nausea, weakness, and significant weight loss. What she believed were “knots” in her rib cage, back, and neck were actually cancer spreading throughout her organs. The pain she felt throughout her body was the disease progressing into her bones.
Out of fear of not being taken seriously again, and the burden of medical bills from prior visits, Kai tried to convince herself it wasn’t serious. How could it be, when so many professionals had dismissed her concerns? Surely someone would have caught it… right?
This stage may have been avoided if her pain had been taken seriously.
Advocate.
Never stop advocating for yourself.
Even when you aren’t sure, ask for the test, the imaging, the bloodwork.
Kai now faces lifelong treatment, and she will need the support of her community more than ever. If you are able, please consider donating any amount, sharing this page, sending a prayer, positive energy, or holding her in your thoughts. Every bit of support, financial or otherwise, means the world to Kai and to those who love her.
Thank you for helping Kai fight.