When 37-year-old Chalise Scholl was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in December 2018, all she could do was thinking about everyone else.
Chalise Scholl had been given six months or less to live, but her terminal cancer didn't weaken her giving spirit.
“It’s just the type of person I am,” Scholl told InsidEdition.com.
Scholl, 37, was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in December 2018. But after a body scan, doctors realized the cancer was also in her liver. Her diagnosis was then upgraded to stage 4.
“I was by myself so the news hit me pretty hard, and I didn’t think it was going to be that dramatic,” Scholl said.
She knew immediately she didn’t want her death to take a financial toll on her family. Scholl’s mother had died of heart failure in 2017, and paying for her funeral, even though she had life insurance, was hard. So Scholl started selling bracelets to raise money for her own impending funeral.
“I saw how much of a struggle it was for my family to get money together for my mom’s funeral, so I said, 'I can’t imagine them having to get together $10,000-15,000 for mine,'” Scholl said. “I wanted to take the burden off.”
Scholl, who lives in Illinois, began radiation and chemotherapy, but after several weeks, doctors found the cancer had spread. She then decided to stop treatment.
“I wasn’t going to put myself through another nine weeks. It made me really sick,” Scholl said of chemotherapy.
Scholl, who goes by the nickname Krazii, was making hundreds selling her $4 bracelets that read “KraziiStrong,” but it wasn't enough to put a dent in funeral costs. In June, her friend started a GoFundMe page for her, and the cause blew up.
“I was overwhelmed,” Scholl said. “I went to sleep one night and woke up the next morning, I woke up to $10,000. I’m very appreciative. The outpouring of support has been above and beyond."
The fund has now grown to nearly $30,000. Scholl said she’s already prepaid for her funeral, from a headstone to the services.
“Nobody has to do anything,” she said.
And with the extra money, she began giving back. She started with helping some family members and has now extended her help to some cancer patients she met while undergoing chemo.
“Even if I wasn’t sick and I was working a 9 to 5 job, if I saw someone needing help, I would,” Scholl said. “It feels good to be able more now but it’s always been in my nature.”
Scholl is now in hospice care and has lost much of the use of her limbs. Somehow, she continues to stay positive.
“I’m staying in my strong faith,” Scholl said. “Everything happens for a reason. I know I am probably going to die soon, but I know God has the ultimate say. I keep a positive attitude and try to keep a strong sense of humor. I’m at peace.”
RELATED STORIES
