UPDATE 5/15
Two weeks ago, while Kimberly was again back in the hospital barely able to eat and battling a stubborn infection, we embarked on a journey of hope. Hope for a miracle to somehow reach this one Doctor at Mayo Clinic who had developed a radiation treatment that could save Kimberly’s life- or at least add almost 5 more years!
Thoughts of getting her to Arizona Mayo Clinic before were realized...instead, she needed to go to Minnesota. (Thankfully it’s warm there now!) While she was hospitalized, we started by
getting paperwork completed so that she could get a patient number! This was a HUGE uplift for Kim. It appeared that “IF”, after reviewing her paperwork, Mayo Clinic was able to give her
an appointment, it would be as an outpatient for a weeks’ worth of appointments. Kimberly must be surrounded by Angels and a miracle happened because the next thing we knew was her case escalated through several departments and within days, the Mayo Clinic was calling for all of her scans and films and her case was before the very Doctor she needed to reach!
This doctor’s name is Dr. Mark Truty. His specialty - working with patients who have inoperable pancreatic cancer whose tumors grow outside the pancreas to encompass veins and arteries
have been told the cancer is inoperable and they should prepare for an average survival time of 12 to 18 months.
-Our dear, kind, loving friend, Kimberly- was diagnosed with this type of cancer. -
When you think of Kimberly, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is her warm smile that brightens up the room? Is it her greeting of “hi sweetheart?”
Is it her melodic laughter or “OH KENNY!” you hear? Whatever it is.... our beautiful Kimberly would never ask but now, this is the
time we really need to band together as her family and help her.
Kimberly NOW HAS REAL HOPE!!! LET’S HELP HER GET TO MAYO CLINIC!!
Kimberly’s insurance does not cover any treatment outside of California. Any amount of donation can help her get to Mayo Clinic!
Read more about this opportunity for Kimberly: 3 factors may extend survival in advanced pancreatic cancer - Mayo Clinic May Extend Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Update:
Kimberly has finished 8 sessions of chemo and, with all of your help and donations, was able to afford medications and therapies her insurance would not cover.
And against all odds, she has shown improvements far and above what her doctors expected. But sadly, she is not out of the woods yet.
While the cancer is showing containment, it is being stubborn and stuck on an area of her pancreas that makes surgery risky at this time. Her medical team is having her go through more rounds of chemo and medicine in the hopes surgery can be performed on this very sensitive organ.
She was successful because of the love and support of her friends, family, and even strangers that gave her the extra strength to persevere.
What did the first round of fundraising do for her battle against this highly aggressive cancer?
1. Medications not covered by insurance
2. Ability to travel to Los Angeles for therapies for sometimes days at a time
3. Time off for her to recover from running her local business and recuperate
4. Out-of-pocket costs for second opinions and additional scans to ensure she was on the right track.
One of the biggest parts of surviving cancer is limiting the stress and financial burden of the disease. The peace of mind you all gave Kimberly and her Husband has been beyond words.
Thank you all.
Fight with Kimberly to beat Cancer
Discover the spark of life that is Kimberly Williams!
We are an army of friends and family determined to conquer the daunting challenge of pancreatic cancer, armed with musical love, emotional love, resilience, and above all hope.
Dive into Kimberly’s world, where every twist and turn in this battle is met with an unyielding spirit and a dash of humor!
This website is more than just a page asking for help; it’s a beacon for those who love Kim and want to be part of her journey. Together, we can help her overcome this and return to being a pillar in the Orange County music scene at Kenny’s Music, spreading love and hope within our community.
Below, you will find all the links needed to support her on this journey.
