Help Gayla: Cancer medical bills and ramp needed
Donation protected
This is my friend, Gayla, and we went to high school together. She’s fighting stage 4 cancer in additional to several other health challenges. The formal cancer diagnosis is non-small cell lung cancer in her right lung. She has never smoked which most likely makes the cancer a genetic mutation.
A little background on Gayla – she was raised in Topeka, KS and went to Washburn University. Her degree is in Criminal Justice. She worked in a halfway house and for a church before she landed at the State Kansas Driver Control Office. Then, in 2009, she contracted Meniere’s Disease and had to go on disability. Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Shortly after that, she was also diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid. The thyroid then can't make enough of the thyroid hormone which leads to an underactive thyroid gland. She has been taking Synthroid for the Hashimoto’s; however, her body has stopped responding to Synthroid which could lead to a coma.
In 2021, she had an infection that caused her to go to the hospital (her temp was 104°) – they did a CT scan and saw something on her right lung. After numerous appointments, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Earlier this year, she contracted Pneumonia. Fluid on her right lung had partially collapsed her lung. They removed a over a liter of fluid, and her lung was once again able to inflate properly. They analyzed the fluid and found that the cancer had advanced and the oncologist did not recommend chemo at that time. She was told “you can’t give poison to someone who is already so sick and expect a good outcome.” She then started using a breathing apparatus to try to strengthen her lung. Gayla’s most recent hospital visit confirmed stage 4 cancer which led to the only way to potentially eradicate the cancer: chemo.
The good news? Gayla is a fighter! This is an excerpt from something that she posted on Facebook: “My sister and my friends and God have helped me through this year, and it’s only going to get tougher, but I’m ready to face it together.”
As you can imagine, the treatment is expensive. And for someone on disability, this is daunting. She is already taking 20+ pills a day for the nausea and dizziness caused by Hashimoto’s. Recently she started chemo, in the form of a daily pill. The chemo med is Osimertinib - generic for Tagrisso. It is a targeted therapy; oral EGFR inhibitor. It is for the treatment of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) She’s still recovering from pneumonia as well, and she needs both occupational therapy and physical therapy to continue to grow her strength. Currently she uses a home health aide to help with basics like showers and cooking. She has maxed out her insurance coverage and the battle for better health is ongoing. She sees 21 different doctors including an Oncologist, Pulmonologist, and an Endocrinologist. And this leads to one of her biggest challenges: she needs a ramp to get in and out of her condo. She lives on the ground floor, but there are two steps down to the parking lot and she’s not strong enough to walk, so she needs a wheelchair. Currently, the only way she can get to doctors and/or the hospital is via ambulance, which again, adds to her mounting costs.
So…how can you help? Three ways:
• Help me find a licensed contractor who can build a ramp. Her HOA requires a licensed contractor, not just a kind person who is capable of doing this.
• She also needs a housekeeper – once a week would be great. I am looking for recommendations.
• Prayer.
• Donate to her Go Fund Me. (our goals are below)
Our goal is to fund a ramp (or find a contractor who is willing to donate their time), find and fund a housekeeper, and help offset the costs she’s incurring as she fights this horrible disease.
If you do not personally know Gayla, here’s what you need to know: She’s an optimist! She loves her cats (Dory, Luna, Dottye, and Eloise), her friends, her family, God, coffee, laughing, cross-stitching, the Royals (especially Salvy!), and the Chiefs! And not necessarily in that order! She hasn’t had the easiest of lives yet she remains selfless, encouraging, hopeful, and faithful. Please join me in helping make her life better as she fights to heal and enjoy all of the things she loves!
A little background on Gayla – she was raised in Topeka, KS and went to Washburn University. Her degree is in Criminal Justice. She worked in a halfway house and for a church before she landed at the State Kansas Driver Control Office. Then, in 2009, she contracted Meniere’s Disease and had to go on disability. Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Shortly after that, she was also diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid. The thyroid then can't make enough of the thyroid hormone which leads to an underactive thyroid gland. She has been taking Synthroid for the Hashimoto’s; however, her body has stopped responding to Synthroid which could lead to a coma.
In 2021, she had an infection that caused her to go to the hospital (her temp was 104°) – they did a CT scan and saw something on her right lung. After numerous appointments, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Earlier this year, she contracted Pneumonia. Fluid on her right lung had partially collapsed her lung. They removed a over a liter of fluid, and her lung was once again able to inflate properly. They analyzed the fluid and found that the cancer had advanced and the oncologist did not recommend chemo at that time. She was told “you can’t give poison to someone who is already so sick and expect a good outcome.” She then started using a breathing apparatus to try to strengthen her lung. Gayla’s most recent hospital visit confirmed stage 4 cancer which led to the only way to potentially eradicate the cancer: chemo.
The good news? Gayla is a fighter! This is an excerpt from something that she posted on Facebook: “My sister and my friends and God have helped me through this year, and it’s only going to get tougher, but I’m ready to face it together.”
As you can imagine, the treatment is expensive. And for someone on disability, this is daunting. She is already taking 20+ pills a day for the nausea and dizziness caused by Hashimoto’s. Recently she started chemo, in the form of a daily pill. The chemo med is Osimertinib - generic for Tagrisso. It is a targeted therapy; oral EGFR inhibitor. It is for the treatment of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) She’s still recovering from pneumonia as well, and she needs both occupational therapy and physical therapy to continue to grow her strength. Currently she uses a home health aide to help with basics like showers and cooking. She has maxed out her insurance coverage and the battle for better health is ongoing. She sees 21 different doctors including an Oncologist, Pulmonologist, and an Endocrinologist. And this leads to one of her biggest challenges: she needs a ramp to get in and out of her condo. She lives on the ground floor, but there are two steps down to the parking lot and she’s not strong enough to walk, so she needs a wheelchair. Currently, the only way she can get to doctors and/or the hospital is via ambulance, which again, adds to her mounting costs.
So…how can you help? Three ways:
• Help me find a licensed contractor who can build a ramp. Her HOA requires a licensed contractor, not just a kind person who is capable of doing this.
• She also needs a housekeeper – once a week would be great. I am looking for recommendations.
• Prayer.
• Donate to her Go Fund Me. (our goals are below)
Our goal is to fund a ramp (or find a contractor who is willing to donate their time), find and fund a housekeeper, and help offset the costs she’s incurring as she fights this horrible disease.
If you do not personally know Gayla, here’s what you need to know: She’s an optimist! She loves her cats (Dory, Luna, Dottye, and Eloise), her friends, her family, God, coffee, laughing, cross-stitching, the Royals (especially Salvy!), and the Chiefs! And not necessarily in that order! She hasn’t had the easiest of lives yet she remains selfless, encouraging, hopeful, and faithful. Please join me in helping make her life better as she fights to heal and enjoy all of the things she loves!
Organizer and beneficiary
Tanya Lauer
Organizer
Monument, CO
Gayla Slusser
Beneficiary