Hi, I am Hanna Smith daughter of Gloria and David Helm. As some of you know, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in late 2024. Gloria was supposed to have surgery to remove the cancer on 5/24/23. She was prepped and ready to go until Drs learned her A1C levels were too high to proceed with the procedure. She was kept many days in OKC at OU Medical Center getting her levels under control. After which, she spent weeks in OKC for numerous Dr appointments to ensure that her body could safely handle such an extensive surgery. Gloria has currently undergone eleven surgeries to remove the cancer and close the wound site. She had the first surgery to remove the cancer on June 29th, 2024. The cancer was very large, had reached her abdominal muscles, and her abdominal wall. Plastic surgeons had to do skin graft/flaps to close the wound site, along with a wound vac on another area. Later that week, we learned some of the flap areas were not responding due to bad blood flow to the areas, and the flap was rejecting. Drs then used a leeching technique to try and regain blood flow which helped, but not completely. Surgeons planned to do another surgery to repair the areas on Monday 7/10, but unfortunately, things took a turn on 7/7/23. We found out that she had a type of flesh-eating bacteria on the wound site and started her on strong antibiotics. Surgery could not be continued until all the infection was gone. Thankfully, with time and antibiotics the infection was gone. The next step was to close my mom up with fish skin. Thankfully, this took well, and they proceeded to do another surgery on 8/2/23 to attempt to close the wound once again with skin flaps. Due to the flesh-eating bacteria, it made the wound site even larger, so they needed to take the flaps from both thighs. If you are not aware of what a flap entails, it is skin, fat and muscle that is taken from a location and transferred to another area. The surgery once again went great, or so we thought. The night of 8/2 her left flap got a hematoma under it, and she was bleeding out. The next morning, we knew the left flap failed, but the right-side flap took! On 8/9, they took her back into surgery to remove the flap from her left side of the wound. She unfortunately, lost everything. Drs also learned that there was an issue with her intestines and ended up having to remove two feet of her small intestines. A mesh implant and another layer of fish skin was needed to help hold everything. She once again is having to start the healing process all over again. She has a wound vac now on both her thighs and her stomach. The plan going forward is to let her left side heal some until a skin graft can be done and this could take several months. My dad, David Helm is retired and is staying with my mom 24/7. As many of you know, bills and living expensive do not stop just because of a major medical emergency. I am hoping, with your help, we can help ease any financial burdens and stress so the focus can be my mother’s well-being. Do you see this amazing woman? This is the face of a fighter that hasn’t stopped. This is the face of someone that has been in so much pain but hasn’t given up. She has been thrown so many obstacles and challenges but has not stopped. She has been in the hospital 62 days and has undergone numerous surgeries. She has defeated cancer. She has had tons of blood transfusions. She has conquered a flesh-eating bacterial infection. She has lost two feet of her small intestines. Cancer has taken away her entire belly. She has had 3 skin flaps taken from her thighs and has had 2 to 3 skin flaps fail on her. This is a woman that is battling being a medically induced brittle diabetic. This is the face of a warrior, and I am so proud to call her my mother. On 8/21 she finally stood up on her own two feet in almost four weeks. I am beyond proud of her. This woman has fought every demon that has been thrown at her. and she will continue to fight. Do you want to know how I know that? Just look at that face and that smile. How many people do you know that would have that amazing smile after everything she has been through? It’s a smile of a fighter, of someone that hasn’t given up. It’s a smile of someone that trusts God has a bigger plan. My momma still needs all the prayers she can get. She still has more surgeries coming. She has a very long road to healing along with staying in the hospital no telling how much longer. Pray she continues to keep fighting, for healing and for health. I love you mom and I am so dang proud of you.
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