Phoebe Gong is a vibrant, strong and fiercely loyal woman. She is known for her passion, her energy, her drive and being very protective of the people she loves. She leads a full life, has many friends, a loving family, 2 cats (Boba & Mochi) and she strives to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

 

After recently contracting pneumonia, followed by a bout of COVID 19, Phoebe began having some memory issues. She was having trouble finding her words and having a bit of what she referred to as “brain fog.” After seeking medical attention (blood work, a series of tests, x-rays, a PET scan, an MRI and finally a surgery to biopsy her lung and lymph nodes) Phoebe received the shocking news… Stage IV lung cancer. (stage 4 non small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma) Not only is the cancer present in her lungs, it has also spread to her pelvic bone and her brain. As you can imagine, hearing this news and this diagnosis is devastating and wildly unexpected given, the fact that she is so young, healthy, has never been a smoker and has never been exposed to any long-term, secondhand smoke.  

Unfortunately, there is something that has baffled the medical community for quite some time now where healthy, young Asian females get lung cancer at an alarmingly high rate. The only known factor is that there is a genetic mutation (EGFR exon 19) and, unfortunately, it is rarely diagnosed until very late stage, as is the case with Phoebe.

 

After meeting with a team of Chicago-based specialists (a pulmonologist, an oncologist and a neuro oncologist) Phoebe has now started on her first oral cancer medication. The next phase of Phoebe’s recovery begins in Houston, Texas at MD Anderson, one of the world’s top cancer facilities. There she will be seeking treatment from the best of the best. 

 

In order to offset any medical expenses, to help ease the financial burden of travel to and from Houston and to supplement her income while not working, we, as her closest friends, want to help and we are asking for your help, too. 

 

Our hope is that this GoFundMe campaign will help relieve any financial concern Phoebe may have and will allow her to focus only on her health. We humbly ask for your support.  Whether through a donation or simply a heartfelt message of encouragement, every gesture matters.

 

Thank you kindly,

Friends of Phoebe