Kris MacLeod's Enduring Wish

Just over a year ago , Kris MacLeod learned the devastating news that she had gastric cancer. None of her family or friends could imagine that Kris would do anything but obliterate this horrible illness. In her daughters words, “If cancer was simply a battle of the mind, my mom would have banished cancer all over the world by now!”... Kris was a warrior. Many people saw her strength but few knew what she was battling until the end. Kris’s story is a hard one to tell for that reason, up until the day she passed we all believed she would beat this.

The cancer was caught early and Kris was optimistic about her prognosis. Like said above, Kris and family could not imagine this would end up taking her life. Kris had recently left her job of 20+ years earlier that summer and was excited to begin work at a newer company that was closer to her home. She was especially excited about the increased salary and better health benefits she would receive, but a few days before starting her new job Kris began having complications after a routine laparoscopy performed to determine whether the cancer had spread. Kris delayed the start of her new job several times but, in the end, was too sick to ever begin. 

Kris was hospitalized for several weeks to deal with the laparoscopy issues and endured two surgeries, infected stitches, and many more unimaginable setbacks and complications. Kris’s husband, Ian, was by Kris’s side the entire time. Ian continued on at his job- the only income for their household at that point- while being by Kris’s side, taking care of their two young boys, Alec and Connor, in addition to all of the other demands of their increasingly complicated life. Ian was laid off in December, choosing the only option for him which was to fight by his wife’s side.

As if things weren’t difficult enough, life decided to throw a curveball at us all. The COVID pandemic hit hard, making Kris’s many hospital stays all the more lonely and stressful on the MacLeod family. It is impossible to relate how many surgeries, setbacks, infections, and hospital stays Kris endured these past 13 months. Through it all, with Ian at her side, she remained optimistic that better days were ahead. Kris fought with every ounce of energy she had, everyday the cancer got stronger so did she... But, we can’t always choose how our body fights and Kris ultimately passed in September, 2020.

Kris had very few “good days” during the past 13 months, but when she was having one, her bright smile was not changed by cancer. There was no income, health care was running out due to the national health pandemic, time with family and friends as severely limited ... but Kris fought for over a year for her family, friends and love of life.

Nobody deserves this. Especially not Kris who gave so much to so many; Kris with her bright shining smile and caring heart; Kris who volunteered and donated and cared deeply about her community; Kris who did everything possible to have more time with Ian and her children; Kris who was taken far too soon. 

Kris left behind her loving husband, beautiful children, Jane (19), Alec (12), and Connor (7) and countless heartbroken friends and family. We now have the opportunity to help Kris’s family out of the financial ruin caused by job loss, cancer, and a pandemic. Let’s come together to help Kris’s family during a time of insurmountable pain and loss.

EDIT: Gofundme needs me to provide the following so we can withdraw the money for Kris's family when we need to.

- This gofundme was organized by Kris's brother, Jerry Nash with help from multiple friends and family.  I am Ian's brother-in-law and Jane, Alec, and Connor's uncle.


EDIT 2:

Who you are and where you’re from: I am Jerry Nash and I'm from Decatur IL
Your relationship or contact to the parties you're raising funds for: I am brother in law to Ian and uncle to his children
How the funds will be spent (be as specific as possible): The funds will be spent towards day to day expenses and maybe even mortgage payments.
Your withdrawal plan to get the funds from the fundraiser to the person that they're intended for: I plan to withdraw the funds straight to Ian's, (Kris's husband) bank account.
If a beneficiary has been added, make sure your story includes the beneficiary’s name and relation to your cause: The whole story above explains everything.

- I am Jerry Nash, Kris's brother, from Decatur Illinois

-I am Kris's brother

- On October 11th we will be depositing all raised funds straight into Ian's bank account.

I tried to withdraw funds before October 11 and gofundme raised a red flag. I have been trying to battle them to get the money to a bank account since then.