The kids shared an encouraging update after “Real Housewives of Orange County” alum Gina Keough revealed she was battling tongue cancer.
“She’s strong through this,” the former reality star’s son Shane told Us Weekly in an interview published Monday.
“She has a great support network,” he continued, referring to the Southern California community.
“Our brother Colton is there too,” continued Shane, who lives in Florida. “So she’s on the right track.”
“But you know, it’s tough on everyone. We’re just trying to keep her in the program so that she’s strong when this is done,” he added.
As for Mr Keough’s daughter Carla, she is optimistic about the matriarch’s ongoing treatment plan.
“I think like everything else in life, she gets cancer because it bends her will,” Carla, who also lives in Florida, told the magazine. “We are choosing to hold on to that idea.”
A day after revealing her diagnosis on a GoFundMe page, Ms. Keough’s children issued an update on her battle with cancer and asked for donations to support the Bravo alum while she undergoes treatment.
“A few months ago, while[my brother]Shane and I were visiting in Florida, my mom told me she had a sore spot on her tongue,” Kara wrote on the page.
“She even went to the dentist multiple times to have her teeth scraped because she thought they were scraping,” Carla continued, explaining that Keogh went in for a spot check and a biopsy confirmed she had “squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.”
Mr Keogh has already undergone surgery to remove the cancer and “remove lymph nodes”. After the second surgery, doctors realized the cancer had spread.
“The treatment is relentless,” Kara explained. “She is exhausted, has a hard time staying awake, and is becoming malnourished because her sore tongue and throat make it incredibly difficult to swallow even small sips and sips. It’s a daily battle just to get enough nutrition and fluids to continue her treatment.”
Additionally, Carla told how Ms Keogh, who is five weeks into chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, has been unable to do her commission work. Since Sunday, she has increased her GoFundMe fundraising goal from $22,000 to $90,000.
Among the many donors was Bravo boss Andy Cohen, who donated $5,000.
Keough also received love and support from his RHOC castmates, including Vicki Gunvalson, who posted on Instagram on Sunday, “Most of you have heard that my amazing friend @jeanakeough is battling cancer.”
Over the years, Gunvalson posted photos of Keough and asked fans to donate and pray for her friend.
Gina, you have been there for so many people in your life. Now it’s our turn to be there for you! We love you,” she wrote.
“RHOC” star Tamra Judge also penned a special tribute, writing, “We love you, Mama Gina. ❤️ We’ll keep you in our prayers every step of the way.”
