Woman with cancer opens roadside stand to pay for $10,000 treatment not covered by insurance

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - A Kansas woman with stage 4 breast cancer has set up a roadside stand to try and raise money for a treatment that could prolong her life.

Jennifer Gordy was diagnosed with breast cancer over three years ago. She had a double mastectomy, and that seemed to be the end of it. But a few months ago, she says she knew something was still wrong.

“We did all the tests... and found out three years later, my cancer never actually did go away,” Gordy said.

Now, her cancer is stage 4 and considered terminal, having spread outside the initial tumor. Gordy says she feels more fatigue, pain and nausea in her day-to-day life.

“A lot of pain, now that [the cancer’s] in the bones,” she said. “It’s literally just everywhere.”

Gordy’s doctor has offered two medications they say will starve the tumor. However, that medication costs $10,000 per month, and Gordy says her insurance won’t cover it because it’s on their excluded list.

“It’s what will literally save my life,” she said.

To come up with the money needed, Gordy is now running a roadside stand that sells baked goods, clothing and coffee mugs. Every dollar goes to her medical expenses.

“Since I am no longer able to do my full-time job, I’ve focused what energy I do have on doing this to try and come up with that $10,000 a month cost,” she said.

Gordy’s husband, Adam, says that while he works in a factory, his wife is working even harder to save her own life. He adds that while the unknown is scary, they are trying to stay positive and enjoy the time they have together.

“I’m so proud of her on how she’s doing with this,” he said. “I try to look at it as we’re all gonna die one day anyway. I just want another 30 years.”

Gordy and her husband hope people will stop by the roadside stand and buy items that can help her reach her goal. The couple have also started a GoFundMe.