Karla’s Tongue Cancer Medical Expenses

This is my sister, Karla. She is a life-loving, positivity-spreading, motivating gem of a person that infects all those she meets with her energy.

On July 2022, Karla felt a tiny lump on her tongue. By August, the tiny lump had grown so much that she could hardly eat or speak. She was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer on August 30th. By September, her cancer had consumed all of her tongue and it was imperative that it be removed before it affected other parts of her mouth.

On October 10th, Karla underwent an 8-hour surgery to remove her tongue and reconstruct a new one from her forearm. Due to her tongue and throat swelling, Karla also needed a tracheostomy to help her breath. Two days later, she had a second surgery to install a stomach feeding tube (g-tube) to eat. Karla spent 8 days in the hospital, doing what she does best, proving to everyone that she is stronger than everyone thinks her to be.

Karla’s surgery was only the beginning of her battle with cancer. She will also need radiation therapy for several weeks and Physical therapy to relearn how to eat and speak. Her battle has only just begun, but we have no doubt that she will come out a winner in the end.

My family and I are raising money to help cover some of Karla (and her family’s) medical expenses while she is unable to work due to her on-going treatments. She is irreplaceable to us and to many of you, we know. As her family, we would like her to focus solely on her treatment and recovery, not medical bills, while she kicks cancer's ass. We hope that you find it in your hearts to help us reach her medical financial needs goal so she can continue to be the bubbly person we all love and can’t be without.