Jessica Hurst
A local beauty shop hosted a fund-raiser for a cancer patient, Keeley Bishop, Saturday, July 15.
Epic Salon owner Karla Railey donated all her profits to Bishop’s cause.
Bishop, a Lebanon resident, was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer at the beginning of June after she fell and hit her head. The doctors performed two surgeries to remove a tumor on her brain. Bishop began treatments on Thursday, radiation five days a week and chemotherapy seven days a week for six weeks, after which Bishop will undergo more tests. Bishop will be moving to Portland for the duration of the treatments.
Bishop has two children, Blaiden, 9, and Aloha, 2, and a fiance, Tony Brassfield.
Cathie Kruse, Bishop’s sister, said, “The hardest part for her is not being around her kids. The surgery messed with her motor skills. She can’t pick up her daughter.”
Jeneyce O’Malley, who described herself as “like a mother” to Bishop, said Bishop proposed to Brassfield before her surgery as she did not want to go into surgery without being engaged.
“It was really sweet.” O’Malley said.
Friends have been working to raise support for Bishop. A GoFundMe page has been started in the name of Keeley Rae Bishop.
Another friend, Angie Gillott has also been fund-raising through her farm, Chaotic Bliss Farm, by selling chicken eggs and baby ducks.
She had so many orders she ran out of eggs, she said.
“All last month’s egg money went to Keeley.”
Bishop was unable to attend the fund-raiser at Epic Salon because of the effects of radiation and chemo, but friends and family gathered to show their support. The proceeds of the hair cuts and a clothing sale went to the fund.
Kruse said, “She’s in such awe of support, from not just friends but complete strangers.”