Support Rebekah Rogers' Fight Against Stomach Cancer

Hi! My name is Ashton Patterson, and I’m creating this GoFundMe on behalf of my best friend, Rebekah Rogers. All proceeds will go directly to Rebekah and her family to help cover ongoing medical bills and future treatments as she continues her courageous fight against cancer.

I’ve been blessed to know Rebekah for most of my life. We first met at Tina Grider Dance Studio in Longview, Texas, in the early 1990s when we were just kids. Years later, in our 20s, we reconnected through our (now) husbands, remembering our childhood connection, and instantly became best friends.

Rebekah’s life has been marked by extraordinary challenges and resilience. After years of unexplained health issues and being dismissed by local doctors, Rebekah was accidentally diagnosed with Stage 4 Papillary Thyroid Cancer in October 2021 after contracting the Delta strain of COVID-19. This discovery truly came as a shock, but it also gave her a path forward. She relocated all of her care to UT Southwestern (UTSW) in Dallas, a renowned teaching and research hospital, where she felt her unique case would be taken seriously. The move posed significant challenges with travel and logistics, but Rebekah and her family knew it was her best chance for comprehensive care due to the complexities of her health.

Over the past three years, Rebekah has undergone multiple surgeries, faced countless complications, and endured intensive treatments—all with remarkable resilience. For a short time, she was declared cancer-free, a hard-fought victory.

Throughout her journey, Rebekah remained determined to uncover the “why” and “what” behind her cancer diagnosis in her mid-30s—an age when no one in her family had ever faced serious health issues. Driven by her inquisitive nature and a desire to help others who might face similar circumstances, she decided to pursue genetic testing, hoping it would provide answers for both herself and her medical team.

Genetic testing revealed a groundbreaking diagnosis: Rebekah carries an exceptionally rare genetic mutation known as CTNNA1, identified by researchers less than a decade ago. This mutation is linked to Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC), a condition that dramatically increases the risk of highly aggressive stomach cancer and is associated with other rare aggressive cancers. The CTNNA1 mutation is so rare that its prevalence is estimated to be as low as 1 in 50 million people worldwide. Individuals with this mutation face a lifetime risk of up to 83% for stomach cancer, along with significant risks for other cancers. In many cases, the most effective option for reducing this risk is a prophylactic gastrectomy, a preventive surgery to remove the stomach. However, because the mutation is newly understood, research remains extremely limited, leaving patients with evolving treatment protocols and few established resources for support.

On October 9, 2024, Rebekah received confirmation that she had developed Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC), just over a year after being diagnosed with the CTNNA1 gene mutation. This devastating diagnosis has added yet another layer of complexity to her already difficult health journey, leaving Rebekah and her family reeling. Despite these immense challenges, Rebekah remains unwavering in her fight, drawing on her faith and God-given strength to face every obstacle with remarkable grace and determination.

Rebekah’s genetic and subsequent HDGC diagnosis brought much-needed clarity to her own health challenges while underscoring the urgent need for awareness, research, and advocacy for others affected by rare genetic conditions like CTNNA1. Rebekah is actively exploring treatment options worldwide, including clinical trials and consultations with leading doctors, surgeons, and researchers who may be willing to take on her complex case.

We know God is the ultimate healer and He has been with her thus far and will continue to be there every step of the way. I would be so appreciative if you could help her and her family during this difficult journey. If you can’t donate, please share with anyone you know & add her to your prayer list.

As her friend, I want to do everything I can to help ease the financial burden of the overwhelming amount of medical bills—both past and future—so Rebekah and her family can focus on her health.

We love you, Rebekah, and we will stand by you every step of the way.