Imagine being told you have inoperable cancer and that your time is limited. That’s the devastating reality Christa Hume is facing right now. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer that has spread to her liver, Christa is fighting for every precious moment she can get—especially with her one-year-old grandson. But here’s where it gets even more heartbreaking: the treatments that could offer her hope are out of reach financially, and time is slipping away.
Christa, a dedicated mental health clinician, has always been a fighter. She’s done her research and discovered specialized therapies in Germany and Texas that could target her advanced cancer. However, these treatments come with a staggering price tag—far beyond what she or her family can afford. Enter her incredible friends, Kylie Gallant, Allannah Reed, and Kate Kallonen, who launched a GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-christa-hume-fight-for-more-time) to help bridge the financial gap.
So far, the campaign has raised over $50,000, thanks to the outpouring of love from Christa’s friends and community across Ontario. “Christa has touched so many lives,” Gallant shared. “The donations reflect the impact she’s had as a friend, clinician, and mentor. She’s so deserving of this support.”
But here’s the part most people miss: even $75,000—the suggested starting point for such campaigns—is just a fraction of what’s needed. Reed explained, “The treatment costs could be three or four times that amount. We’re up against a mountain, but we won’t stop fighting for her.”
And this is where it gets controversial: should access to potentially life-saving treatments be determined by financial means? Christa’s situation highlights the harsh reality of healthcare disparities, where the cost of hope can be prohibitively expensive. Her friends are determined to give her every chance, but the odds are stacked against them.
Adding to the challenge, Christa’s partner and other family members are facing layoffs at Algoma Steel this spring, doubling down on their financial hardship. “It’s a perfect storm of difficulties,” Kallonen said. “But we’re doing everything we can to give Christa more time—time with her family, her friends, and especially her grandson.”
Christa’s friends describe her as a beacon of love and joy. “Our kids call her ‘Crazy Auntie Christa’ because she spoils them with her boundless affection,” Kallonen shared. “She’s the kind of person everyone wants in their life, and we’re not ready to let her go.”
Time, however, is not on their side. Healthcare professionals in Sault Ste. Marie are using the word ‘palliative’ when discussing Christa’s diagnosis—a word she refuses to accept. “She wants hope,” Gallant emphasized. “These treatments could give her that, and the GoFundMe is keeping that hope alive.”
To boost the campaign, The Ten Spot will host a fundraiser in the coming weeks, donating proceeds from discounted services directly to Christa. But the question remains: will it be enough?
As Christa’s story spreads, it raises a thought-provoking question for all of us: What would you do if the person you loved needed a chance at more time, but the cost was out of reach? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the conversation going and rally behind Christa’s fight for hope.
