Help Leslie Beat Cancer

Our fearless leader needs your help. Leslie was recently diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing some new lumps during a self exam. The tumors turned out to be large triple positive HER2+ invasive ductal carcinomas with lymphovascular invasion, i.e. spreading to the lymph node. She has travelled to Houston multiple times to see doctors while also receiving care in Austin.

After HMO insurance obstacles and long delays to see oncologists and surgeons, her lumps grew from the stage IIA range into the IIIA range while waiting to get care. She has finally started treatment just in the nick of time. Chemotherapy causes extremely difficult side effects making it hard to function normally and care for herself and her pups while juggling intense pain, nausea, GI issues, extreme fatigue, headaches, weakness, vertigo, brain fog, loss of taste and appetite, etc.

She’s depended on delivery services when she can’t drive since she lives further out of town, and also for safety while hunkering down solo due to the recent Covid uptick. Leslie has no family in Austin but her amazing father has been frequently traveling from DFW to Austin and Houston to help when he can. Friends are on call too but none are nearby and many have been getting Covid lately.

Due to high out of pocket insurance costs, the initial unexpected medical bills are already through the roof in the multiple thousands for mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, CT scan, MRI, heart echo, port surgery, bloodwork, genetic testing, medication, doc visits, travel, chemo, infusions, etc. Expenses are expected to pile up further for more chemo, surgeries, radiation, doc visits, infusions, immunotherapy, diagnostics, medication, travel, food, groceries, mental health, home care, pet care, etc. The insurance out of pocket max resets annually, causing medical bills to add up all over again into the many thousands.

She’s trying a cold cap system not covered by insurance to help avoid permanently losing her hair, after already struggling with alopecia in the past. If the cold cap system doesn’t work, she already cut all her hair off and saved it to possibly make into a wig. She’s also exploring alternative options not covered by insurance to help alleviate some of the chemo side effects, but they aren’t cheap.

After this first round of chemo treatment, Leslie will have more surgeries, radiation, immunotherapy, medication, doctor visits, infusions, targeted treatments, etc for at least another year either in Austin or Houston. Thankfully she has work and healthcare, but since the out of pocket max resets every year, the medical bills could climb into the tens to twenties of thousands once this initial battle has run its course by the end of next year.

Oddly, right before Leslie's cancer diagnoses, her soul dog Hazy, the queen of our music videos, was also diagnosed with cancer. What are the odds these two have cancer at the same time? It's unreal. So are the vet bills.

If you know Leslie, you know she is super independent with a huge, generous heart. She also has a hard time asking for help. This is a chance to give back. Any contributions will go directly towards these unexpected expenses that are rapidly racking up to help save her life. This financial burden is a major stressor so any extra help can allow Leslie to focus on getting better and kicking cancer’s ass.

Many people have offered to pitch in physically but it isn't so safe at the moment due to Covid health risks. If she gets Covid, the flu, or even a cold, it could be detrimental to her compromised immune system. Everyone has asked how to help so this is the best way right now. We know times are tough. Anything helps, even just a few bucks, or at least sharing this fundraiser with others who might be able to help. If you’d rather Venmo, our handle is: @MovingPanoramas

Either way, please send good vibes and keep Leslie in your thoughts, hearts, and prayers. She’s always been a warrior and is fighting to win the hardest battle of her life. We are rooting for her recovery and look forward to playing shows again while finishing our next record on the other side of this.

Thanks to Ali Ditto for these pics of Les and Hazy from our last minute band photo shoot before treatment began. To read more about that and Leslie’s story, follow her on CaringBridge sharing in her own words what the heck is going on in real time: Les Cancer Diaries