From left to right: Karla – Sharing with school children – With her beloved dog – “Stay kind and curious!”
Love With a Capital C for Cancer
Meet my dear friend Karla. When she was first diagnosed with stage-4 NETs (Neuroendocrine Tumors), Karla learned that this rare disease was incurable. It was however, treatable. But few clinics were prepared to do so. Then she discovered that the NCI, the government-sponsored National Cancer Institute, was equipped to treat her fully-metastasized cancer.
The NCI has extended Karla’s life-expectancy by several years. Years she’s using to bless untold numbers of others: through her wonderful, life-affirming blog Flannel With Faith, and through her live readings to school children from her memoir (when health allows) about adventuring in the Ozarks with her beloved dog.
Ironically, however, even though the NCI recognizes Karla’s disease as one of the most serious forms of cancer, it is not well-known enough to make Medicaid’s list of fully-covered conditions. Hence, she’s required to pay at least $3800 a month before receiving any additional aid.
As a result, she’s filed a chapter 13 bankruptcy, which will buy her time to pay back her growing medical debts. And, in order to further reduce her cost of living, she’s moving to a small 55+ community.
“I’m not bitter or angry at God or doctors or anyone,” Karla writes, “(but) my family does get angry. My mom cries a lot and is losing her memory, so it’s hard on my family to watch. (Nevertheless), they have grown in their faith, and I have joy in my heart!!”
Karla’s treatments can be extreme, the most recent she’s labelled her “worst nightmare.” Still, with 9 tumors in her skull, 6 in her spine, 5 in her kidneys, and dozens of others throughout her body, these treatments are the key to her surviving another five+ years.
Years Karla will use to bring her irresistable spirit of hope and love to others!
Note: Karla’s sister has created a GoFundMe page to help cover medical costs. I encourage you to visit and follow her blog and, if you feel so led, to consider making a contribution here!
Wow, thanks for sharing, so many sad stories like that, thanks for thr donation link, keep us informed of how she is doing.
Thanks for Sharing, Mitch.
It’s frightening that the government says – ‘Yes you’re sick with cancer, but TOO sick for us to really help you much.. .’ What would they say if she did Not have $3800 + to put out every month ? maybe a ‘Sorry to hear that ma’am, good luck to you, have a nice day’ ??
Medicaid waives this fee for well-known cancers, but because of its rarity NET has been overlooked.
but now they do know about it. . . sorry but this type of governmental faulty logic disgusts me, not helping the people who need help
Mitch, thank you for writing about Karla. She has such a joyful and optimistic spirit and deserves every bit of help we can give her.
God bless her and keep her. She’s sharing a powerful message and lending hope, too. 🙏🏾🩵
Prayers for your friend! Life can be harsh, but with God‘s grace, we keep walking.
Thank you, Mitch, for letting us, who care so much about Karla and have been inspired by her faith and courage, know of her financial need.
By everything Karla has gone through, she is such a loving light for us and such a strong woman. Thank you for for making aware of the GoFundMe page. I know Karla for a while but did not know about that page. Will check it out!
Your friend is a true delight! Glad you posted this, Mitch.
Thank you for sharing this story about Karla. I’ve unofficially adopted her as my third daughter. Karla is an amazing woman, a person with faith galore and a positive spirit in spite of her illness. We’ve been friends for a few years. It’s so interesting to find someone like her and feel connected immediately. My oldest daughter received a cancer diagnosis too. She finished her radiation treatments and has just begun chemo. Karla has given me so much wisdom through her journey. I pray for her every day.
It is so disappointing how expensive medical treatment can be, and those who need it most get slammed the worst financially. Glad to see a GoFundMe page has been created for her. There are a lot of compassionate folks in the world. Wishing her the best.