Warrior Princess Needs Battle Funds

I am reaching out to my friends, family and beyond to help a dear family member.  My sister-in-law Michelle has been a cancer survivor since May 2011, when she received the diagnosis of an aggressive type of breast cancer. After a year and a half battle and a cancer-free bill of health, she was ready to move on with her life.  Unfortunately, cancer had other plans and she learned it had returned.  She battled once again battled while also volunteering to help other women who were faced with a cancer diagnosis and raised financial support for various cancer groups in Fairbanks, Alaska. Michelle has spent countless hours researching her treatment plans, while helping others to understand and advocate for themselves to battle their own cancer diagnose and treatments.



A Formidable Opponent 

In December 2014, Michelle learned the cancer had spread to her lungs and in 2016 to her brain - Stage 4, Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). To date - Michelle has had 11 surgeries, 19 cycles of chemotherapy, 33 radiations to the chest wall and 5 Gamma Knife/Steriotactic (targeted radiation to the brain) to remove and treat the cancerous tumors.  She is a warrior and to this point she has shown cancer that she is a formidable opponent. 

 

Battles are Expensive

Fighting cancer is expensive, especially when you have been fighting it for over 7 years. Michelle requires IV infusion treatments every 3 weeks, which will continue for the rest of her life, as long as it's kicking cancer’s butt.  The cost of the infusions total over $21,000.00 each time, that’s over $350,000 per year. These treatments only help from the neck down, unfortunately Michelle has MBC in the body and the brain. There are various other costly treatments for the brain, which are more expensive for Michele since she must travel out of Alaska to obtain the treatments.

 
Brain Cancer Combat

Michelle lives in Alaska with limited resources to care for the MBC in her brain.  As Michelle continues to fight this horrible disease, it requires her and her husband, David, to travel to obtain top-notch medical services not found in Alaska.   Michelle has an awesome team of doctors and they are both very grateful for the care and expertise received to fight this disease.  Trips to fight the cancer outside of Alaska involve air travel, Uber/rental cars, hotel stays and meals.  Michelle and David have health insurance, but the co-pays, deductibles and travel costs have waged their own war.  Up to this point, Michelle and David have been paying for all these expenses, but as you can imagine, 7 years of trying to kick cancer's butt and now Michelle’s inability to contribute to the family income, has drastically drained their pocket book. 

 

How can YOU help?

Your financial donation will help ease the burden of co-pays, deductibles and various other out-of-pocket expenses for Michelle’s ongoing treatments and required medical travel.  Sharing Michelle’s story with people you know may encourage others with MBC to keep up the fight (she’s been successful for over 7 years) Pray for Michelle to be healed from cancer and to feel the peace beyond all understanding.  #PrayforWarriorMichelle  

 
Michelle is a fighter and cancers worthy opponent… a warrior who will not quit.  Pray for her, financially support her and help her kick cancer’s butt! #Alaskawarriorwins #notgonnaquit #cancersucks #helpalaskawarriorprincesskickcancer #warriorprincessneedsbattlefunds