Kim's Fight Against Stage IV Appendix Cancer

In November of 2020 my mom, Kim, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Just before Christmas she had a hysterectomy and we spent the holidays over zoom, just as many families probably did, and made the most of it. Shortly into the new year, it was determined that her cancer had not been confined to her uterus and had actually grown from her appendix- her prognosis was updated to a terminal stage 4 appendix cancer. The following 18 months have been a whirlwind for our family. The “battle” we all hear about is just about the realest thing you can imagine. At one point the cancer had metastasized to her brain, effectively giving us a new massive obstacle. Miraculously, my mom crushed that obstacle with ten rounds of radiation like an absolute boss. There were many, many ups and downs to follow. It’s not just the hair loss like you see in movies- it’s the debilitating cramping, the vertigo spells, the falls, the broken bones, the sudden onset anaphylactic shock attacks. And then there are stretches of peace and hope. A true emotional rollercoaster.

Steve, my mom’s husband/partner of 30 years and my second dad, has been an absolute superman in caring for mom and holding down the fort while juggling all of life’s responsibilities as best as he can. I’ve made the 7 hour trek from Los Angeles to home (Roseville, CA) more times than I can count. Nicholas, Steve’s son and my stepbrother (yes, we grew up as Nick and Nicholas!) is a marine stationed in 29 Palms. He’s up here when he can be. There are friends and family and neighbors that have all stepped up and helped take the edge off of some of the most trying times.

We’re a close family. We laugh a lot, we bicker, we prank each other, we quote Seinfeld and we hate confronting bad news. At the beginning of this journey I told my parents, “If this thing gets too hairy please know that we can try for a gofundme thing.” They sort of brushed it off with a prideful, “We got this!” optimistic kind of response. Well, after two long, less-than-successful rounds of chemo and Steve having put work aside to be a full-time caregiver (he’s been a general contractor his whole life) he finally had to confront the unfortunate reality of our situation and asked me, “Hey, can we look into the gofundme?”

We all know about the bleak state of America’s healthcare system. This is another one of those many, many stories. The insurance industry is designed like a complicated labyrinth and it’s the last thing you’re equipped to navigate when dealing with the most stressful situation you’ve ever had to endure. The % of hospital visits and cancer treatments that insurance won’t cover, plus all the other expensive twists and turns are enough to sink a lifetime of hard work, and without being able to earn money in the meantime you end up in a very difficult position. My mom and Steve are two of the most important people in my life and I’m launching this campaign to help shoulder some of the financial burdens of an already impossible situation. Thank You.