Kerri's Breast Cancer Battle Fund

Hello Friends, Family, and everyone on Team Kerri Ann,

This is a fundraiser to help support one of the most generous, kind, and loving people we know - our girl Kerri Mongenel. On July 29, 2024 at 40 years old, Kerri was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her official diagnosis is Stage 2 Estrogen Positive, ER +/PR+, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer of the right breast. After several tests and meetings with medical specialists, she underwent surgery for a single breast mastectomy on October 23, 2024. During this procedure, 4 lymph nodes on the right side of Kerri's body were removed and tested. Of the 4 lymph nodes, 3 of them tested positive for cancer.

Kerri’s healing journey has been a challenge since the start of her diagnosis. The mastectomy was very difficult on Kerri's body with a wound site that was stubborn to heal. She had to handle having an open wound resistant to closing for over 2 months beyond her initial surgery. This drastically delayed the start of her chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Kerri will have to be on hormone therapy for the next 5-10 years as the cancer she was diagnosed with "feeds" on estrogen. The delay in Kerri's treatment has placed a significant financial strain on her and family, which prohibits her from focusing on healing and kicking cancer's ass. Our goal is to raise enough money that she can continue to stay off of work on disability as her doctors have recommended and to lift the strain on her and her family as they navigate this next phase of healing

Kerri has meant so much and provided so much support to the people in her life and to her community. Kerri is the mother to a bright, beautifully handsome 12-year-old son, who is the epicenter of her world, and daughter to her loving parents, Sharon and Chris who have stood beside her during this tumultuous time. Their support has been incredible as they have provided financial support, transportation to doctors' appointments, medical care, meals, and respite. Kerri is an invaluable community resource, helping children and families throughout the county. She has become a leader, mentor, and champion of the members of her work family, as well as a powerhouse at ensuring children/families have a voice in their own healing journies. Kerri's fight to stay healthy and strong for her small albeit mighty family is weakened by her concern about finances, her work in the community, and the intense desire to continue to provide for others outside herself.

Kerri is in the beginning of her breast cancer journey and the financial strain is already taking a significant toll on her ability to focus on healing.

Kerri begins her chemotherapy on February 06, 2025. She will undergo 16 rounds of chemotherapy for a total of 6 months with radiation to follow. Kerri is looking at a minimum of a year of extended treatments before the completion of her cancer treatment. We are striving to come as close to the dollar amount listed, to help cover the extended costs of medical bills, replenishment of her HSA insurance, and deductible fulfillment, as well as provide funds for daily living expenses, travel expenses, and the cost of being a single full-time mother while being off from work. Let’s come together and give back to this wonderful woman who has already given so much to us all.

Kerri will be the direct beneficiary of all funds raised through this GoFundMe. If you have any questions about donations please reach out to Nicole Rutherford who is managing this on Kerri's behalf.