Zonie Fights in OK
Donation protected
Last July Zonie was diagnosed with stage 4 Breast Cancer. Not one to get daunted by the unfortunate news, she made a plan. Zonie's plan involved her gaining her first 2 legged roommate since her undergrad years! She also made a phone call to her current school to put her doctorate degree on hold. She made sure everything was taken care of at work, and then faced the world of cancer killing head on.
Our mom, Gayle, moved from her home in OK to Zonie's place in KS. While mom was there to help Zonie with getting to and from chemo, blood transfusions, doctor appointments and yes - work. Mom also did a complete renovation on Zonie's apartment. That renovation resulted in new beds, multiple coffee mugs finding new homes, and odd boxes haphazardly packed in a closet. Zonie kept a smile on her face and let mom fill as many boxes as she needed.
Chemo treatments took 5 months, ending just in time for the holidays 2017. Mom and Zonie celebrated with one last cup of coffee in a remaining mug, and Mom moved back to her house in OK. Zonie reenrolled in her doctorate program and started unpacking some of those boxes from the closet. While Zonie was finished with her Chemo program, she was still receiving treatments for her cancer every 3 weeks and getting body scans and blood tests done at regular intervals. During these scans, tests, treatments, and appointments results kept coming back with improvements. Zonie noticed some of the digestive side effects of chemo still remained. Her doctor referred her to a gastroenterologist but with a 3 month wait. During that time she was very limited on the foods and frequency she was able to digest, and quickly began to have the weakness associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Good news came after the results of her gastroenterologist found an ulcer.
With the hope of regaining strength as the ulcer shrunk, Mom packed Zonie in the car to bring her to our family reunion! After finally having some time to relax with family members (and getting a fabulous first haircut) we began to notice a decrease in Zonie's motor skills. Zonie was kidnapped when the car she rode to the reunion in decided not to take her back to Kansas! Instead, she ended up back at mom's place in Oklahoma. Monday (7/2) Zonie was admitted to the hospital and subject to even more testing. Results of her MRI came back with the news that her cancer had spread and was now in her brain. After reviewing all the possible next steps, it was determined that her best form of treatment will be radiation. Zonie will be starting her radiation treatments on Monday (7/9).
Until this point, Zonie has paid for every medical bill on her own. She has continued to work as often as possible to ensure she has had steady income, as well as to keep herself occupied. She was even able to continue taking classes for her doctorate this spring. The decrease in her motor function has made it impossible for her to continue living independently.
This is where your help is needed. Zonie lives and works in Kansas. All of her medical treatment until this point has been in Kansas. Now with her relocation, every expense she incurs will be out of network. Her out of network deductible is $7,000. I have set the goal of this campaign as $8,000 with the thought that the extra money will go towards the additional medical supplies and living supplies she will need while under continuous care, and possibly even allow Zonie to purchase a few more coffee mugs during her time at moms house. Every little bit you are able to donate will help with these costs. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity more than words can describe.
Our mom, Gayle, moved from her home in OK to Zonie's place in KS. While mom was there to help Zonie with getting to and from chemo, blood transfusions, doctor appointments and yes - work. Mom also did a complete renovation on Zonie's apartment. That renovation resulted in new beds, multiple coffee mugs finding new homes, and odd boxes haphazardly packed in a closet. Zonie kept a smile on her face and let mom fill as many boxes as she needed.
Chemo treatments took 5 months, ending just in time for the holidays 2017. Mom and Zonie celebrated with one last cup of coffee in a remaining mug, and Mom moved back to her house in OK. Zonie reenrolled in her doctorate program and started unpacking some of those boxes from the closet. While Zonie was finished with her Chemo program, she was still receiving treatments for her cancer every 3 weeks and getting body scans and blood tests done at regular intervals. During these scans, tests, treatments, and appointments results kept coming back with improvements. Zonie noticed some of the digestive side effects of chemo still remained. Her doctor referred her to a gastroenterologist but with a 3 month wait. During that time she was very limited on the foods and frequency she was able to digest, and quickly began to have the weakness associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Good news came after the results of her gastroenterologist found an ulcer.
With the hope of regaining strength as the ulcer shrunk, Mom packed Zonie in the car to bring her to our family reunion! After finally having some time to relax with family members (and getting a fabulous first haircut) we began to notice a decrease in Zonie's motor skills. Zonie was kidnapped when the car she rode to the reunion in decided not to take her back to Kansas! Instead, she ended up back at mom's place in Oklahoma. Monday (7/2) Zonie was admitted to the hospital and subject to even more testing. Results of her MRI came back with the news that her cancer had spread and was now in her brain. After reviewing all the possible next steps, it was determined that her best form of treatment will be radiation. Zonie will be starting her radiation treatments on Monday (7/9).
Until this point, Zonie has paid for every medical bill on her own. She has continued to work as often as possible to ensure she has had steady income, as well as to keep herself occupied. She was even able to continue taking classes for her doctorate this spring. The decrease in her motor function has made it impossible for her to continue living independently.
This is where your help is needed. Zonie lives and works in Kansas. All of her medical treatment until this point has been in Kansas. Now with her relocation, every expense she incurs will be out of network. Her out of network deductible is $7,000. I have set the goal of this campaign as $8,000 with the thought that the extra money will go towards the additional medical supplies and living supplies she will need while under continuous care, and possibly even allow Zonie to purchase a few more coffee mugs during her time at moms house. Every little bit you are able to donate will help with these costs. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity more than words can describe.
Organizer and beneficiary
Barbara Pilla
Organizer
Chesterton, IN
Zonie Brooks
Beneficiary