In September 2023, after nine months of searching for answers—including a back surgery in May—Whit was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. The tumor was so large it had invaded her ureter and surrounding tissues, making surgery impossible. By November, the tumor had completely blocked her ureters, leading to kidney failure and a 10-day hospital stay, where doctors placed tubes in her kidneys.

In December 2023, she started six weeks of daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy, followed by five rounds of internal radiation in January. The treatments took a severe toll on her body, leaving her with permanent tubes in her right kidney that require surgery every eight weeks. She has been hospitalized multiple times for kidney failure and needed multiple blood transfusions due to internal bleeding caused by radiation damage. Currently, she’s undergoing 80 rounds of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in hopes of repairing some of that damage, but her blood levels remain critically low.

In July 2024, Whit was laid off, and her medical insurance has since expired. Finding a new job while going through all of this has not been easy. As you can imagine, cancer treatments, PET scans, surgeries, blood transfusions, and hyperbaric therapy are incredibly expensive. While she received the incredible news of remission in December 2024, the battle is far from over. The lasting effects of treatment require ongoing care—oncology visits every three months, monthly lab work, biannual PET scans, and consultations with specialists. With stage 3 cancer, recurrence is always a possibility, and we’re doing everything possible to prevent that from happening.

Whit will continue to need blood transfusions, surgeries, and continuing care. We are hoping to raise funds in order to help pay for these treatments and COBRA health insurance for Whit that is $1958 a month. Any donation will help and we are forever grateful to you all!

If you would rather donate via Venmo

Venmo- WPatterson24