Community Joins Forces To Help Woman Wage Cancer Battle

MASTIC BEACH, NY — Friends and a caring community are coming together to help a local woman battling cancer.

A GoFundMe, "Helping Kelly Live," was created by Pamela D. Williams-Lacy and has raised $5,330 of its $15,000 goal so far. To donate, click here.

In a heartfelt post, Williams-Lacy described Kelly's journey: "After waiting for what seemed like six hours to see Kelly after surgery there was only one thing on her mind. I could look in her eyes and they told the story of longing. Longing to receive a confirmation. Was it cancer? Heart racing, I search for an easy way out. After being told by the surgeon that it was and not to tell Kelly, I could not lie to those eyes at that moment. Yes. It was Stage 2, borderline Stage 3," she wrote. "I could see her chest sink and her eyes give way. Yes, Kelly Marie Lacy has stage 3 cancer."

Williams-Lacy said Kelly's cancer has traveled to other organs and her lymph nodes. She is facing two years of chemo treatments.

"We are faced with mounds of medical bills and an uncertain future," she wrote. "We remain strong in our faith that with God, it is all possible. The cost of the doctor visits, chemo treatments, hospitalization at separate facilities, surgery and countless imaging exams and lab work has made the need urgent. The prescriptions is a mounting financial burden. Kelly has absorbed all of her leave at work and must now accept leave without pay."

Kelly, Williams-Lacy wrote, has already been through health issues prior to learning of cancer. She struggles daily with lupus and Sjogren's Syndrome.

And then, came the cancer diagnosis, due to two large masses on her ovaries which pressed against her bladder.

"I will attend every appointment and chemo treatment with Kelly for any support and because I have endless love for her," Williams-Lacy said. "She is everything and I will do all I can to make sure she survives. We are asking for your assistance in trying to help Kelly with these finances. Those that know Kelly, know she will do anything for anyone. Now it’s our time to help save her life."

In an update, Williams-Lacy said the road ahead is still difficult, with mounting bills and setbacks in chemotherapy due to white blood cell and bone marrow issues.

"As her spouse, I am trying to do everything I can to take this burden away from her and from us," Williams-Macy wrote.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe; GoFundMe is a Patch partner.