Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Angela Goodrich, a Utah mother of 10, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
- Community is asking for support through GoFundMe, highlighting Goodrich's kindness and generosity.
- Friends recall Goodrich's compassionate acts, emphasizing the family's current financial need.
TOQUERVILLE, Washington County — A Utah woman is grappling with a recent stage 4 cancer diagnosis while her husband, 10 children, two grandchildren and countless family and friends wonder why she is dealing with such a fate.
Why her? Why now? Why ever?
Angela Goodrich, 45 wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital on March 3 to get some blood work done. The next thing she knew, she was being held at the hospital for further testing that led to a devastating diagnosis: stage 4, grade 3 adrenocortical carcinoma — a type of cancer that develops in the adrenal cortex, which sits atop the kidneys.
It just doesn't seem like something like this should happen to someone so good.
– Jocelin Blohm
Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, and grade 3 indicates the cells have a high likelihood of growing quickly.
Jocelin Blohm, a good friend and former neighbor of Goodrich, said the news has devastated family, friends and many whose lives have been touched by Goodrich.
"It's just crazy that it could be that bad," she said. "Just like that, suddenly she has stage 4, grade 3 cancer. She's gone from being just fine a month ago to barely being able to get out of bed."
Blohm said Goodrich was the first person she met in her Eagle Mountain neighborhood. She spoke to Goodrich's giving nature.
"When I had just moved into the neighborhood, I sent my daughter down to Angela's house to get an egg, and my daughter came home with a dozen eggs," Blohm recalled. "I was so embarrassed because we just needed one. She was like, 'Oh my gosh, honey, if you needed one egg, you needed a dozen. I want you to keep these.' She's so nice, and it was wonderful — and we've just been best friends ever since."
Blohm isn't the only neighbor who has benefited from Goodrich's kindheartedness. Many friends shared moments when Goodrich helped them in their own times of trial.
"Angela invited me to the birth of her last baby because she knew that I always wanted to have a child and was heartbroken that I never had that experience," Bonnie El Halta said. "This was a very special gift."
"At one point, I was struggling with infertility, and she just knew when I was extra sad, even though I was trying to hide it," Geneve Fallon added. "She brought me dinner after one of my (fertility) treatments because she knew it was emotionally, as well as physically draining."
Another neighbor wrote on her Facebook page about receiving service from Goodrich when her own husband was diagnosed with cancer.
"When my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer five years ago, I felt like my world had been turned upside down," Gina Hardy wrote. In the middle of the whirlwind of treatments, appointments and fear, one constant comfort was my friend Angela. When my husband needed a place to work and rest during treatment, Angela quietly rallied friends to help finish a bathroom in our basement. That space became a refuge for him during some of his hardest days, and she made that possible."
"Just a few weeks before her own diagnosis, Angela drove three hours to come to my son's (Latter-day Saint) mission farewell," Hardy said. "She showed up early, surprised me at my door, and immediately jumped in to help with preparations. I could tell she wasn't feeling well that day — but of course, Angela was there, doing what she always does: lifting others.
"Now it's our turn to show up for her."
While Goodrich is undergoing treatments, family and friends are rallying together to support her and her family through a GoFundMe* campaign to help relieve the financial burden that has suddenly overwhelmed her family.
"She still has eight of her kids at home. A couple of them are adults and one just came home from a mission," Blohm said. "It's unbelievable that this could happen. I'm so sad for them. I think about my own grief and how badly I feel about maybe not having her in my life and I just can't even imagine what it would be like for her husband and kids right now. It just doesn't seem like something like this should happen to someone so good. We just need her."
A GoFundMe* account has been set up to help with cancer treatments and support for the Goodrich family through this difficult time.
*KSL.com does not assure money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
