Help Kelsey Battle Castleman Disease with Lymphoma

Hello World!

Last year (2021), Kelsey was diagnosed with a very rare disease called Castleman Disease, with lymphoma. She lived with a very painful, slow-growing tumor in a lymph node in her abdomen for two years before finding a doctor capable and willing to remove it. The tumor, which grew to be the size of a softball, was in a tough place and wrapped in nerves. In November, the surgeon who agreed to remove the tumor said it was an all-hands-on-deck, complicated surgery, but they were confident they had removed it all. The recovery from this surgery was challenging, but she powered through it. In January of this year (2022), she returned to work and school and was determined to continue towards her degree! After the tumor was removed, she was told she was in remission and was given a Unicentric Castleman Disease diagnosis, with instructions to follow up with a scan in May. Kelsey continued to have intense disease symptoms until her scan and was told it was unrelated. The unfortunate side effect of having a rare disease.

On May 12, 2022, Kelsey received news that her tumor is regrowing rapidly, and there is a second tumor growing in her chest. This new scan comes with a new HHV-8-negative idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease diagnosis with lymphoma. Kelsey is set to start an aggressive chemo treatment plan as soon as insurance approves it. She will not be able to work, care for/see her children, tend to her sweet dogs, or go to school during her treatment. We are hopeful insurance will cover most of the cost of treatment, but she is a single mom who has had to work very hard to get where she is right now. She will need help covering essential bills, personal necessities, groceries, gas to get to and from treatment, the cost of hiring someone to help care for/foster her dogs, and any medications she will need. We hope to help raise enough money to get Kelsey comfortably through this time, but we also know that not everyone is financially able to assist. We are more than grateful to accept prayers for strength and healing. Kelsey has two little boys (4 & 10) who will be with their dad during treatment. They will need lots of love and prayers sent their way as well. In whatever way you choose to support Kelsey, please know she is overwhelmed with the love and generosity that has been shown to her thus far and is thankful for every one of you!