Kristen, our dear sister, friend, and young mother is bravely battling recurring cancer and is in need of financial support as she begins her next stage of treatment. This is her story:

I am Kristen, a 40 year old single mother of three amazing children ages 3, 14, and 17.

In 2016 after a tragic accident I lost the love of my life my amazing husband, John.

In 2019 I was diagnosed with Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma. A soft tissue cancer tumor.

In 2019 I had my 1st surgery to remove a 9.4 lb. tumor from my abdomen which took my right kidney.

Four years later in 2023 the tumor came back a lot more aggressive in my abdomen which was attached to my inferior vena cava. My surgeons could not find a successful way to remove the tumor so I was told the tumor was just going to keep growing. This was how I was going to die. At this point the tumor was blocking the passage to my stomach so I could not eat.

I begged and pleaded with the Lord and doctors to find a way and with a few painful tests they found a small passage to cut the tumor away from my inferior vena cava. The doctors also had to safely shut off my portal vein during surgery. Praise God! I was in surgery for 14 long hours and that surgery took my gallbladder, a portion of my stomach, and a portion of my large intestine. I was emotionally and physically exhausted and in tremendous pain.

During both recoveries I had to learn to eat and walk again before getting discharged from the hospital.

Unfortunately, three months later the tumor came back (which is what I am currently fighting). I was given the option of trying a clinical trial treatment instead of traditional chemo which would be very hard on my body with major side effects. So I opted to go that route. The trial worked by shrinking my tumor 50% in size, which was awesome! However, two cycles later my body became resistant to the trial drug and was no longer effective. After this trial I had the opportunity to try a second clinical trial which was unsuccessful.

As my tumor continues to rapidly grow I am now forced to choose an aggressive treatment. I am starting traditional chemotherapy in hopes to stabilize and shrink my tumor and get it under control. But, unfortunately, for this cancer there is no cure.

I am hoping that after my next CT I am a candidate for surgery to remove the tumor again. But this depends on whether or not the tumor is near or growing attached to any major organs, arteries, vessels, etc. I pray I am a candidate for surgery.

Currently, I am horribly uncomfortable and in constant pain. I do my best to stay very positive and hopeful through it all. With God by my side all is possible and He is my saving grace. My kids sweet faces and love from my family and friends keep me going.

I know I am not much of an open book and it's pretty tough for me to put it all out there but I am here now. I've had to humble myself and ask for help being a single mommy of three doing my best to stay as healthy and happy as possible under these circumstances.

The funds raised will help pay for medical expenses and treatment options that are not covered by my insurance.

Thank you so very much for your prayers, generosity, and for loving the kids and I.

With gratitude & love, Kristen.