Help Amy with expenses in her battle with cancer

Jeff Gelberg and Laura Heller are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Amy Weitzman.

It is with heavy hearts we share that Amy's battle with cancer is nearing the end. She and her husband Keith have chosen to keep her comfortable at home for the remainder of her journey.

For those who don’t know Amy’s story, in August of 2021 she began having headaches that wouldn’t let up. Keith, her boyfriend of more than a decade, noticed changes in her personality—she just wasn’t herself. In early September, Amy’s left side became paralyzed, and her face drooped. Keith rushed her to the hospital, where they received devastating news: Amy had two brain tumors. Two days later she had craniotomy surgery to remove them. The surgery was successful, but she still needed intensive chemotherapy and radiation.

Amy, always a fighter her whole life, endured the awful side effects of cancer treatment: hair loss, seizures, brain fog, excruciating pain. In spite of it all, there was hope her fight and struggles were winning the battle. She’s an artist, and early in the diagnosis, with the time she had at home she was able to once again return to her passion.

Unfortunately the cancer grew back. Amy is no longer able to create her art.

Amy has stage 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive kind of brain cancer. She underwent a second surgery to remove the regrowth, and doctors were confident they’d gotten it. While waiting to try a new cancer treatment, her already compromised immune system took another hit: she contracted covid, delaying the new treatment she’d been waiting for.

In all this sadness there has been one bright spot: as a statement of their unyielding love for each other through it all, Keith and Amy were married on August 29, 2022.

Sadly, this aggressive cancer doesn’t typically respond to treatment, and the doctors have let Amy know there’s nothing more to be done. She’s in home hospice care now, bedridden with Keith as her sole caregiver. The only outside help is a nurse who comes twice a week to check Amy’s vitals, then leaves.

While Amy and Keith are profoundly grateful for all the support over the last year, the reality is they will have ongoing financial needs related to Amy’s treatment, care, and loss of income which has stretched their resources to the breaking point. The situation is dire. Keith has not worked in eight months as he’s been caring for Amy full time. They’ve gone from two incomes to none.

Let’s all rally around Amy, and make sure Keith has the financial resources to get the round-the-clock nursing help she needs now, and even more so in the coming months. Donations will also allow Keith to manage the unexpected, unrelenting and significant medical bills, plan for inevitable expenses on the horizon and have meals brought in so he can focus all his time and attention on Amy.

You’ve heard it before but it’s absolutely true: every bit helps at a time like this. Please consider joining in, and showing your love and support for Amy and Keith as they go through this unimaginably difficult time. Thank you.