Help Rachel with Rare Cancer Treatment
Complicated by Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Hello, my name is Rachel Baldwin, and I am 55 years old. I am reaching out to share a story of a difficult fight—one where two life-threatening conditions have collided, blocking the path to the life-saving care I urgently need.
I was recently diagnosed with Stage 2B Low-Grade Serous Carcinoma (LGSOC), a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. In September, I underwent major surgery to remove three massive tumors, which ranged from 9 cm to 12 cm. I am now recovering, but the fight is far from over: I desperately need to begin the next phase of treatment.
However, my treatment path is blocked by another life-threatening condition: Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS).
AGS is a severe, tick-borne allergy to the carbohydrate alpha-gal, which is found in all mammals (except Old World monkeys and humans). The greatest obstacle to my survival is that nearly all standard chemotherapy drugs, compounded medications, anti-nausea drugs, capsules, and even the gelatin used in supportive care supplies are derived from animal by-products.
What This Means: A medication that could save my life from cancer could simultaneously trigger a fatal, anaphylactic reaction due to AGS.
My oncology team and I are now in a race to vet, find, or custom-compound every single pharmaceutical product needed for my therapy—a necessary, life-saving process that is not covered by my insurance.
The medical situation is compounded by a devastating financial reality that makes accessing even the preparatory steps for safe treatment impossible without help.
Disability Stolen: Two years ago, I lost my disability (SSI) and Medicaid coverage after getting married, as our combined income was deemed $22 over the limit. I had a part-time job then, but I am now far too ill from cancer to work.
Struggling to Live: My husband is 55, disabled, a Type 1 Diabetic, and a two-time organ transplant recipient. His entire fixed income of approximately $1,900 per month is consumed by his own essential, Type 1 diabetic & dual transplant-related healthcare costs and prescription co-pays (eats up all but $400 a month).
Broken down Car: We are currently living in (building a home in) my father-in-laws garage, it is unfinished—and our source of heat is oil heaters and space heaters because our original source of heat stopped working just before it got cold. Our main vehicle is broken down and completely unreliable, we have an old pickup truck that is on it's last leg at all and very expensive to drive. This leaves us with no safe, functional way to travel the extensive distances required for my numerous and essential medical appointments with specialized doctors, we often have to borrow a vehicle.
We are not asking for money for the primary cancer drugs, but rather for the essential logistics and supportive care needed to get through this medically complex battle.
Your generosity will directly fund the critical needs that Medicare/Medicaid simply will not cover, giving me a fighting chance at survival.
AGS-Safe Care & Chemo Comfort
This covers the specialty items needed for the duration of treatment: custom AGS-safe supportive medications, specialized groceries (free from all mammalian by-products, gelatin, beef broth, etc., which are often expensive), and comfort items to minimize the severe side effects of therapy. I created an Amazon Registry for this called : Getting Through Chemo
Reliable Transportation & Travel
We would love to use our own car, it needs a transmission. But if we can't get it fixed at the least we need help with Gas costs and maybe meals while in the city.
Essential Living Expenses
To provide a safety net for six months while I am unable to work and undergoing intensive treatment, covering basic home expenses such as groceries and maintenance, allowing my husband's fixed income to stay focused on his own life-sustaining transplant and type 1 diabetes medications.
Whether you can donate $5 or simply share my story, every action is a gift of life.
Donate Directly: Every dollar helps pay for the next tank of gas or the next AGS-safe meal. Venmo / Paypal.me are below.
Purchase Essentials: Visit my Gift Registry (link below) to purchase specific, critical items I need for chemo comfort and AGS-safe living.
Gift Cards: Send an Amazon Gift Card (link inside registry) to ensure I can purchase highly specific AGS-safe products and groceries that are only available online.
Buy a Cookbook coloring book or other item from one of my Shops.
If you cannot donate, please share my story widely on social media, with friends, and in any support groups—it costs nothing but is incredibly helpful! I promise I will update as often as I have information.
What I need:
Specialty items needed for the duration of treatment: custom AGS-safe supportive medications, specialized groceries (free from all mammalian by-products, gelatin, beef broth, etc., which are often expensive), and comfort items to minimize the severe side effects of therapy.
I have compiled a "Getting through Chemo" registry with Amazon If you would like to help out, go check it out, please. You can even purchase a gift card instead right from the registry.
https://tinyurl.com/Amazon-Chemo-Registry
To show my deepest appreciation for your support, I want to share a gift that comes directly from my experience managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome and chronic illness. As the author of several specialty cookbooks and coloring books, I will personally gift a digital copy of the book of your choice to every single person who donates at least, regardless of the amount, as a simple thank you.
Please leave a note with your email and preferred title(s) when you donate so I can send the file to you.
 You can pick from the books here - My Amazon Bookstore
 You can buy a Coloring book or graphics that are downloadable / printable from one of my stores: Gumroad  or Ko-Fi 50 page coloring books for kids are $2 60+ pages are $3 and Adults coloring books are $3
If you would like to contribute by sending via Venmo: you can send anything you feel you can do to @Rachel-baldwin-29
Or you can send via paypal: paypal.me/RachelleiBaldwin
Thank you for giving me a chance to beat this. With Deepest Gratitude,
Rachel & Travis Baldwin