(Updated
10:30 p.m., Nov. 9)
Orléans woman battling cancer launches GoFundMe page
By Kelly Snider
The Orléans Star
Orléans
resident Leith Francis is currently in the fight of her
life. After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012,
she thought the disease was behind her after having the
tumour removed.
However,
the day before her fourth year anniversary of being in
remission, she received devastating news.
I
was hospitalized after having severe pain and struggling
with breathing for a while, and (following tests) I found
out the cancer had returned.
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Keion
and Leith Francis were unsure of whether to
launch a GoFundMe page but knew something
needed to be done to find alternative cancer
treatment. GoFundMe photo
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Francis,
37, said this time the cancer was in her lungs, back,
and abdomen.
When
we found out it was back, and wildly spread, we were devastated.
Two days later or so, we found out it was Stage 4
and the life expectancy was five per cent and thats
when it really sunk in.
Francis
said all she could think about were her two children who
are eight and 11 years old.
All
I could think about was whats going to happen
it was very emotional and devastating, said Francis.
Doctors
told her that there was no cure and the most they could
do was help her be comfortable for the remainder of her
life. Shes been undergoing radiation and oral chemotherapy,
where she takes two capsules every day.
Two
weeks ago, she received an update for her MRI and CT scan
which showed the cancer has spread to the skull.
However,
based on the results from her chemotherapy treatments,
there have been changes in her thorax that cancer cells
were being reduced.
The thing is, it was not working on my bones, and
if anything will take me, its the bone cancer.
Now,
the goal is to see if there is a treatment to slow the
progress of the cancer in the bones or stop it completely.
Francis
husband, Keion, found a treatment in Mexico which could
work. From there, he decided to launch a GoFundMe campaign
to help pay for the treatment in Mexico and to find any
alternative treatments that will help her.
The
two said the decision to launch the social media fundraising
campaign was difficult.
We
werent sure we wanted to do it because were
very private, said Keion. We didnt want
to burden our friends but I felt like I needed to do whatever
I can and I felt like we needed the help.
Francis
said she does not like to put her personal business in
the public eye, so she felt exposed and vulnerable to
launch the GoFundMe page.
It
was a challenge for me to agree, but he feels he cant
sit around and wait for the chemo to work. He needs to
do what he needs to do.
The
goal is to raise $60,000 for the expenses. As of Nov.
7, the page had raised just over $24,400.
We
have been overwhelmed by the support from friends and
family and also from the community contributing. We thank
you for all the prayers and well wishes, said Keion.
If
you would like to donate, you can visit Francis
GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/leiths-medical-expense-fund.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support
of our local business partners.)
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