Please help our family

Hello,

My name is Tabitha and I am Penny's daughter. I have created this gofundme for my mother who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in September of 2022.

In June of 2022, my mom went to Palomar Hospital for abdominal pain that she had been experiencing periodically for a few months but was only continuing to worsen. After multiple tests, scans, and days spent waiting for answers, we were told that they were going to transfer my mom to UCSD Medical Center because her bloodwork was coming back with elevated tumor markers. Fast forward to September of 2023, and after more testing, dr appointments, and a colonoscopy, it was confirmed that my mom had colon cancer.

While they believed her cancer was diagnosed early, that hope was quickly dashed during an exploratory surgery. They realized that my mom's entire abdomen was covered in this disease, including her bladder, cervix, multiple areas of her colon, and more. Our family was informed that she had stage 4 cancer and they would be starting aggressive chemo treatments immediately.

After months of chemo treatments that we believed were working based on her tumor markers, she began to develop abdominal abscesses which caused her to be hospitalized again. Due to these abscesses, she developed sepsis in January of 2023. We were told that if she did not respond to the medications, my mom would only have weeks left with us. Her team of doctors did everything in their power and with my mom being the fighter she is, she recovered from the infections she had developed. During this time, she was not able to continue her chemo treatments as her immune system was too compromised from the infections.

One ray of joy came on January 28th, I gave birth to my son, Greyson Ganzer, and my mom's very first grandson. After months of various appointments, my mom's team of doctors were able to come up with a new course of action that would allow her to see this new addition to our family. She was finally given the green light to come to Tennessee to visit us: Greyson, Gentry, Geoff, Rocket and myself. After this trip she would be beginning chemo and radiation treatments again.

Upon her arrival to Tennessee, things took a tragic turn and she was hospitalized 2 days after arriving. My mom had developed a colon blockage which required immediate surgery. Devastatingly, the surgery did not go as intended.

We were told that her disease had spread too quickly and there wasn't anything further anyone could do. She was released from the hospital to our home on hospice care at the end of April.

She is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many and she will be missed immeasurably by those around her. During this tragic time, I ask for any funds you are able to contribute to help our family with medical and upcoming end of life expenses. Anything would be immeasurably helpful and appreciated. We ask that you also please share this with your family and friends as well.

Please continue to keep Penny and our family in your prayers as we continue to support and surround her until she is called home.

Thank you.