When Kim Wilkes first heard about Eye on Grace, she was hesitant to request a grant because she felt like other patients needed it more. At the time she was flying every other week from her home near Atlanta to Boston.

“It was expensive! I decided to contact Ashley, and she convinced me to request a grant. I have received three grants in the last few months,” Kim says.

Kim was diagnosed in May 2017 and immediately had plaque therapy. She was referred to Dr. Orloff at Jefferson in Philadelphia and underwent scans every three months. By February 2019, the cancer had spread to her liver, and since then Kim has endured a rigorous course of treatments. Ablation, multiple chemoembolization (CE) and several trials with harsh side effects. The last trial, based in Boston, ended in May and Kim learned that the cancer had spread further. She’s back to having CE on a regular rotation.

Kim lives in Powder Springs, GA with her husband of 30 years and has a married daughter and son-in-law, a son who’s a senior at University of North Georgia, and a 19-year-old daughter at Kennesaw State. “I got to see them all graduate!” she says with pride.

Kim worked for many years as a first grade teacher. After her diagnosis, she eventually ran out of time off for treatment and had to quit. “I loved my job and felt like cancer took it from me,” she says.

“Eye on Grace came at the perfect time. I hope others realize that it’s ok to ask for help; we are all in the same boat. We don’t need to deplete our life savings for treatment; that’s why this foundation exists. It’s for everyone,” she says.