Carla Keepes

I NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

My story started in 2019, I was working as a registered nurse in our community hospital. I started having some health issues and went to a physician. After six months of testing I found out that I have pseudomyxoma peritoneal appendix cancer, a very rare cancer. Researchers said in 2022 that 2 people per million each year are diagnosed.

When I was first diagnosed with this disease family and friends had a fundraiser for me . We were very blessed . Now four years later I am still dealing with this disease . After three major surgeries, I am still alive by the grace of god. I have a support group that had a program to inform us about Help Hope Live for assisting people to fundraise for medical expenses . Well I reached out to them and they support us in our fundraising efforts.

When I was diagnosed with this rare disease, i was working as a Registered Nurse. I had been working for the last 20 years. My husband had just retired from the Local 374 Union Boilmakers. We were ready to travel, do some camping and enjoy our grandchildren. That all came to an halt due to this disease.

Houston Texas MD Anderson is the only place that I can go for my treatment. This disease is a life long progress to live through.

We have both went thru our 401 K savings as the medical bill have added up and travel expense to Houston for my treatments.

As of this time I have had 18 travels to Houston, Texas from Illinois, and 3 major surgeries. I will have to go every 3-4 months for the rest of my life for check ups.

I am asking for donations to help pay my medical expenses not covered by insurance, they include travel and lodging, co-pays, medical bills, medications and more.

For the rest of my life, I will have to have care of this disease and travel back-and-forth to Texas for treatment, CAT scans and blood work. I am in palliative care at this time due to watching my cancer status . While I feel that all my family and friends have already donated and blessed us with donations and fundraiser, we are just putting this out there to see if others organizations could help out with our cost of this terrible disease.

Our family and friends are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

I chose to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button. And please share my page on your social media platforms.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!