As Caledonia mother of 4 battles stage 4 cancer, community steps up to raise funds for treatment

CALEDONIA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After several years of fighting stage four cancer, a Caledonia mother of four is holding onto hope.

"I'm grateful that I'm not in it alone," said Martha Kinyonga.

Diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2023, Kinyonga says her church, community and family have given her the strength to keep fighting.

"Together, collectively, we are one family," said Kinyonga.

Grateful for every moment with her family, Kinyonga says they've been by her side as she endured several rounds of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

In October, she found out her cancer came back more aggressive.

"That was a shock, going from basically one place to a lot of places, hence why I was trying to get different options, see what we can do," said Kinyonga. "Because clearly it's growing and it's aggressive and I just wanted to do what I can to be here for my family."

Running out of treatment options, Kinyonga was accepted into a program in Arizona, but says since it’s a new form of treatment, insurance won't cover the cost.

"I have four-month treatment and its $300,000," said Kinyonga.

Serving as a missionary with her husband in Tanzania for more than a decade, she says she leans on her faith through the hard times.

"I don’t know tomorrow, I don’t know next week, I don’t know next year, but he does and so we are putting our faith in that," said Kinyonga.

Her church and community are stepping up to help raise money for her four months of treatment set to start next week.

"I just love her and I'm praying God can move this, we are just praying for a miracle," said Martha's husband, Mshama Kinyonga.

Martha says her goal is to get healthy and move back to Tanzania with her family and once again serve as a missionary.