Katie was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer on October 25th, 2018. Only 41 years old, self-employed, and without medical insurance...how, why, and what next?
Earlier this fall Katie was having some stomach discomfort from symptoms that mirrored those of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome); however the prescribed medications did not alleviate the symptoms. An ultrasound in mid-October revealed that there was fluid in her stomach. During her initial meeting at the Gastroenterology clinic she was transferred to Centennial Medical Center in Nashville where she met with Dr. Thomas Numnum (also known as Dr. Yumyum). Four days later, October 29th, Dr. Numnum performed a complete hysterectomy and an abdominal exploration where he found cancer in her ovaries, her stomach, rectum, and in a lymph node on her heart. Most of the cancer was removed except on her heart and part of her colon. Over 7 liters of fluid was drained from her abdomen as well. Katie was discharged from the hospital on November 2nd.
On November 13th Katie met with Dr. Numnum to discuss pathology results and map out her care plan. Beginning November 29th Katie will continue the battle to save her life as she undergoes the first of six chemotherapy treatments; one every three weeks. There is an 80% chance that the chemotherapy will kill the cancer that remains in her body. In March she will have a PET scan which will reveal the success of the chemotherapy treatments.
As many of you know, Katie is a young, single lady from Minnesota who is self-employed and without medical insurance. With this serious illness comes the added stress of having no family in Tennessee and the worry of how to pay the bills. To say the cure for cancer is an expensive treatment is an understatement. Katie needs your support and donations to win this battle.
Katie remains hopeful that treatment will be effective and is grateful for the wonderful support she has already received from friends and family and although she is fatigued and in pain, she continues to be as positive as possible.
We understand that many are looking for ways to help. At the moment the biggest need is for financial assistance. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to support Katie. Your support and donations will help ease some of Katie's worries, and will help her focus on doing the things she needs to stay emotionally and physically strong in the upcoming months.It’s going to take all of us to do our part and stand with Katie, giving her the strength and courage to take cancer head on and win.
To make a donation to help Katie, click on the "Ways to Help" in the purple navigation bar below Katie's picture. Then, click on the "Give to Fundraiser" in the GoFundMe section. If you prefer to go directly to the GoFundMe page, please click on the GoFundMe link below or paste the link into your browsers address bar. Either of these steps will help ensure your donation helps to support Katie.
The direct link to the Go Fund Me page -
https://www.gofundme.com/6fkplqo&rcid=r01-154259770406-54f7ea1cb1b04e22&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_wDonations to CaringBridge are meant to support CaringBridge as a nonprofit, advertisement-free website while donations to Katie go to help Katie directly. If a CaringBridge tribute donation is made, CaringBridge is not able to redirect your donation to Katie's GoFundMe campaign.
Please check Katie’s CaringBridge page regularly for updates. In the meantime, we appreciate your prayers, support, and words of hope and encouragement.
Please share Katie's story on your social media and personally in your conversations with your friends and family and ask them to share her CaringBridge link as well.
Thank you for joining Katie’s fight against cancer.
