Fundraiser to help cancer victim

Kathy Bilger is well known around Havre.

Over the years, she has waited on people at 4Bs, provided needs for seniors at Northern Montana Care Center and served folks at Town Pump

She is known for her friendly manner.

Now its the community is waiting on her.

She has been diagnosed with liver cancer, and family and friends have organized a fundraiser at Pizza Hut to help pay the many expenses.

When people buy any food from Pizza Hut Thursday - call-in, takeout or pick-up - they should tell the server they want Kathy Gamble Bilger to get 20 percent of the proceeds.

Misty Swenson, whose father is married to Kathy, recalls the date - Dec. 6, 2013 - when she went to visit her father.

Kathy was in excruciating pain. She finally went to the emergency room at Northern Montana Hospital.

After they did a batch of tests, they discovered ovarian cancer.

She underwent chemotherapy, and for a while, things started to improve.

But when she once again started feeling pain, doctors confirmed their worst fear. The cancer had spread to her liver.

It's been tough on her, Misty said, but you wouldn't know that from talking to her.

She remains upbeat, Misty said.

But Misty said her father has COPD. They live in a second-floor apartment and have a hard time getting up and down the stairs.

Kathy has had trouble with chemotherapy. It leaves her skin beet red.

Because of her allergies to chemotherapy, doctors give her smaller doses, but that means the sessions last a lot longer. She underwent 15 hours straight in one stretch.

All of this hasn't put a dent in Kathy's determination, Misty said.

"She's a fighter, that's for sure," she said.

"She's got to be one of the toughest women - maybe she's not tough, maybe she's just hiding it," Misty said.

"She is always thinking of other people," she said. "It's so hard to see her struggling

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Many may have been taken care of from Kathy at 4Bs, Care Center or Town Pump, now Kathy Bilger needs our help and support. Kathy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer in December of 2013, she is a fighter for sure. She under went a complete hysterectomy and it was looking good. She became sick and went in for labs as required to be given devasting news that it now attacking her liver. She restarted chemo and went through 15 straight hours of Chemo in Great Falls. When released from hospital she came home and was not able to deal with pain, and being sick. She was admitted to hospital and keep for several days, now released but doing care daily at Cancer Center in Havre. They are currently on a upper level apartment and the weakness and loss of strength is making it very difficult on her. They are in need of moving and help with medical costs, travel and all necessities she may need. An account is also being set up at Independence Bank which is under her name Kathy Bilger if your able to help anything is greatly appreciated.

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