Help Mrs. Gifford find a cure
Donation protected
My name is Areil Tagalog, and I am a proud student of Mountain Veiw high School, I am creating this account for my wonderful teacher Mrs. Gifford who has stage 3 breast cancer. Mrs. Gifford is the most wonderful person and she is sweet with a caring heart. She was only in class with us for a couple months in the beginning of the year, but during that time I could already tell I was going to enjoy her as our teacher. She always had a smile on her face and she was very involved with her students, I never expected what was to come her way but I guess you can’t predict the future. Here is her story…
“My name is Nancy Gifford and I have been teaching high school life science for nearly 14 years. I have a deep passion for teaching students about the amazing complexity and diversity of life and hope to instill in them an appreciation and wonder about the world around us and look for ways to make this a better place to live.
This school year (2015-2016) I realized in just a few days that I had some truly exceptional students. A large majority of my students had a zest for learning and were just genuinely fun to be with. I was so excited to have the next 9 months with these amazing human beings.
Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come next. In mid-September, while I was painting, I fell off a step stool, rolled my ankle and broke it in 2 places. The doctor told me I could not put any weight on the ankle for a minimum of 8 weeks. I was devastated because I would have to take a medical leave of absence and I knew I would miss my students tremendously.
The bad news was not quite over, however, because only 3 days after my fall I was told I had an abnormal mammogram. After MRIs. Biopsies, and sonograms the dreaded news was revealed…I had Stage 3 breast cancer and it had spread to my lymph nodes.
I was extremely hopeful that my surgeon would be able to remove all of the cancer if I had a double mastectomy, but this was not the case. In addition, I would have to undergo a 6-8 month chemotherapy and radiation treatment regimen and the estimated cost after insurance would exceed $40,000. This news caused my spirit to sink into despair. How would we ever be able to pay for these medical bills, especially because I cannot even work right now?
Well, a few weeks later I received the most uplifting email from one of the amazing human beings I mentioned above. Areil Tagalog, who has a heart as big as the ocean, asked if she could try to raise money to pay for my medical expenses using “Go Fund Me.” I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her gesture of love and compassion. It gave me renewed hope I needed that this cancer is not going to win!
Thank you, Areil, for your tender heart and for caring for others in such beautiful ways. May God richly bless you!
With unending gratitude,
Mrs. Gifford”
I thought to myself how could this happen to a women who does so much for others, but I know she's going to be okay because she is strong she is not going to let cancer get the best of her :)!
The money raised will be used for medical expenses. She has to pay a $2600 deductible before insurance kicks in and another $6000 before they cover it completely. She also has several thousand dollars of medical bills from 2015 which were not covered by insurance. In March, her short term disability runs out so she will need to go on COBRA insurance, which is all out of pocket (probably about $500 per month). Her benefits are quickly running out, she may have to be on a leave without pay for April-July.
I am begging anyone to help this great cause and help my teacher get better, remember anything helps and is MUCH appreciated! Thank you SO much!!!
We love you Mrs. Gifford!
“My name is Nancy Gifford and I have been teaching high school life science for nearly 14 years. I have a deep passion for teaching students about the amazing complexity and diversity of life and hope to instill in them an appreciation and wonder about the world around us and look for ways to make this a better place to live.
This school year (2015-2016) I realized in just a few days that I had some truly exceptional students. A large majority of my students had a zest for learning and were just genuinely fun to be with. I was so excited to have the next 9 months with these amazing human beings.
Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come next. In mid-September, while I was painting, I fell off a step stool, rolled my ankle and broke it in 2 places. The doctor told me I could not put any weight on the ankle for a minimum of 8 weeks. I was devastated because I would have to take a medical leave of absence and I knew I would miss my students tremendously.
The bad news was not quite over, however, because only 3 days after my fall I was told I had an abnormal mammogram. After MRIs. Biopsies, and sonograms the dreaded news was revealed…I had Stage 3 breast cancer and it had spread to my lymph nodes.
I was extremely hopeful that my surgeon would be able to remove all of the cancer if I had a double mastectomy, but this was not the case. In addition, I would have to undergo a 6-8 month chemotherapy and radiation treatment regimen and the estimated cost after insurance would exceed $40,000. This news caused my spirit to sink into despair. How would we ever be able to pay for these medical bills, especially because I cannot even work right now?
Well, a few weeks later I received the most uplifting email from one of the amazing human beings I mentioned above. Areil Tagalog, who has a heart as big as the ocean, asked if she could try to raise money to pay for my medical expenses using “Go Fund Me.” I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her gesture of love and compassion. It gave me renewed hope I needed that this cancer is not going to win!
Thank you, Areil, for your tender heart and for caring for others in such beautiful ways. May God richly bless you!
With unending gratitude,
Mrs. Gifford”
I thought to myself how could this happen to a women who does so much for others, but I know she's going to be okay because she is strong she is not going to let cancer get the best of her :)!
The money raised will be used for medical expenses. She has to pay a $2600 deductible before insurance kicks in and another $6000 before they cover it completely. She also has several thousand dollars of medical bills from 2015 which were not covered by insurance. In March, her short term disability runs out so she will need to go on COBRA insurance, which is all out of pocket (probably about $500 per month). Her benefits are quickly running out, she may have to be on a leave without pay for April-July.
I am begging anyone to help this great cause and help my teacher get better, remember anything helps and is MUCH appreciated! Thank you SO much!!!
We love you Mrs. Gifford!
Organizer and beneficiary
Amanda Enriqtag
Organizer
Tucson, AZ
Nancy Gifford
Beneficiary