Support Kristy Taylor's Cancer Battle

Hi! My name is Jessica Pope, or most know me as the mover of dirt for my partner Kristy Taylor. After a lot of thinking, freaking out over how to feed the kids (while still keeping the power on) and our beloved animals (most being rescues) fed, I have decided to start a GoFundMe for Kristy and our family. When I say we had the scare of our lives, it's not an understatement. I don't scare easy. When I read the diagnosis, I shower-cried for at least a week. We have been through so much, so, so much, and now I could lose her.

Kristy has been through an unimaginable journey over the past year. After seeing 13 different doctors, dentists, and oral surgeons, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Her first surgeon removed the wrong part of her tongue—a traumatic experience made worse by an insincere apology from the doctor responsible.

While insurance covered the first surgery, Kristy was unable to work for three weeks, causing financial strain. Eventually, she found a competent doctor who properly removed the affected area. Unfortunately, by this time, the cells had turned into cancer, requiring a more extensive surgery. On February 28, Kristy underwent a procedure that included a skin graft and the removal of 22 lymph nodes for testing.

As she was beginning to recover, a stitch tore the night before her post-op visit, leading to a severe hemorrhage from her mouth. Despite our efforts to slow the bleeding with gauze, she ended up in the ER at Carolina's Medical Center, where she endured over 10 hours of continued bleeding until her surgeon arrived to help.

To make matters worse, I have also battled cancer—both esophageal and stomach—over the last three years. My personal fight, including chemotherapy treatments, left our family financially devastated. Now, with Kristy facing another three weeks of lost income while also falling behind on the crucial spring growing season, our situation is more challenging than ever. Because yes on top of everything else my amazing partner also owns and runs her own nursery business Taylor Family Greenhouse! With just the help of family. This time of year was supposed to be just worrying about potting tomatoes and picking out flowers! Despite everything, Kristy remains determined to push through and continue her work, all while preparing for radiation treatments.

We are reaching out to our community for support. Any contribution, big or small, will go a long way in helping Kristy and me cover medical expenses, lost income, and the costs of keeping our livelihood going through this difficult time.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support. Your donations will make up for lost time during recoveries, household bills, medical bills, and seemingly insurmountable debt incurred during this fight.