Kelly's Medical Fund

It's October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we felt it was time to update you on Kelly's status. She is 7 months out since her diagnosis of breast cancer in March, 6 months out from her complete double-mastectomy and initial reconstruction surgery, and in the home stretch of her chemotherapy treatments. She is very tired, but holding strong with lots of support. She, Mark, and their two young boys feel the love and support daily, and thank you from the bottom of their hearts for helping to carry them along, in all the ways that you do, when the burden of this diagnosis is just too heavy for them to carry.

As many of you know, Kelly is a special educator, but her doctors have her on a year's leave from teaching. Contractually, she is only able to receive pay and affordable insurance from her district until mid-November. She plans to return to teaching September 2018. The cost of procedures, appointments, treatments, medications, parking, mileage, etc. on top of the usual bills and expenses to maintain a household and support a family of 4, is a tremendous.

This gofundme account and other fundraisers and donations have served to help alleviate the financial stress that accompanies a diagnosis such as breast cancer. Although Kelly's prognosis is good, she and her family still have a long ways to go. Physically, emotionally, and financially.

Kelly is expected to have her last chemotherapy treatment mid-November and has been cleared for her second surgery in the beginning of January. This is be the 1st final reconstruction surgery. The tissue expanders will be removed, implants placed, and final reconstruction started. Before this, she will need December to recovery enough from chemotherapy so that her body is strong enough for this surgery and recovery. This surgery is an 8 week recovery (no lifting, lots of PT, drains, etc.) with an additional follow-up surgery likely to follow in March or April. The follow-up surgery will likely be a shorter recovery, about 4-6 weeks.

After chemotherapy is complete, Kelly will need to begin hormone therapy in order to suppress her production of estrogen. There will be a future discussing of surgical options as well, as Kelly is only 37 years old, but this will be at a later date. With great sadness, but growing acceptance, Kelly and Mark chose to grieve the loss of fertility and close the door on expanding their family in the further. The risk and cost were just too great.

Thank you for reading this, for your contributions, your love, support, caring, and sharing. We are hopeful to get Kelly and her family closer to our set goal of 30k in order to alleviate some of the financial burdens they will continue to face in the coming year in route to winning this fight!