Support Kelsey Zeigler in her Fight with Breast Cancer

Recently, Kelsey was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer with a palb2 genetic mutation, increasing her likelihood by 60% of getting cancer again if she doesn’t have chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiation. Her triple negative diagnosis means it is least responsive to chemo. It is an aggressive cancer that moves fast, but Kelsey caught it at stage 2.

Kelsey’s treatment will consist of months of chemotherapy, followed by mastectomy surgery, after which she will need a month of initial recovery. Next, she will undergo radiation and 9 months of reconstruction adjustments, until a final reconstruction surgery and another month of recovery. The treatment process will take a year and a couple of months. During chemo, Kelsey will need limited exposure to the sun and stay in an air-conditioned controlled environment to minimize negative side effects.

Additionally, there will likely be stretches of weeks or months in the next year where Kelsey will be unable to take much work or have to forgo it entirely as she undergoes chemo and several surgeries. Many of Kelsey’s contract jobs for film and TV have her out in direct sun exposure and hot environments over the summer for 12- 14 hours a day. Her best-case scenario is looking at a drop in household income for the next year of at least 50%, and that’s if she can work at all.

It is uncomfortable to ask for financial aid in this way, but we believe that if we can buffer her now, it will alleviate at least some of the magnitude of stressors that will occur during treatment. We want Kelsey to focus on her recovery.

We are seeking support to raise $25,000 initially to help cover living expenses such as rent and groceries and a buffer for sudden treatment costs that UnitedHealthcare decides not to cover. Your support will help Kelsey ensure she has access to critical care when she needs it and alleviate some of the stress and worry she is carrying right now. We can give her the strength and resources to focus on healing.

If you cannot contribute financially, sharing this campaign with your friends and family would mean the world to us. Furthermore, any leftover funds will be used for women’s reproductive and fertility advocacy justice since UnitedHealthcare denied her coverage for reproductive and fertility options.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading Kelsey’s story. Your kindness and generosity make all the difference, and we are eternally grateful for your support.