Benefit on Oct. 19 at Alabama Hotel backs woman with cancer who is ‘friend to all’

Photo contributed: A benefit Oct. 19 at Alabama Hotel will benefit Carrie Desjardins of Oakfield, who is battling fourth-stage cancer. She is shown here with a cousin.

OAKFIELD – An Oakfield woman with many ties to Orleans County has recently been diagnosed with a very rare form of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and has masses on both lungs and her liver.

Carrie Gilbert Desjardins, 46, worked in home care for the Arc of Orleans. Her mother Bonnie Grimes Gilbert grew up on Fletcher Chapel Road.

The family is hoping all their friends and relatives in the area will come out and support a benefit in Desjardins’ honor Oct. 19 at Alabama Hotel.

“Carrie would never ask for anything,” said Judy Gilbert, who is planning the benefit. “But she will have extensive treatments moving forward and that means medical bills. Sadly, she has had to resign her job.”

Judy describes Carrie as “a wife, daughter, sister, a very proud aunt, a special niece and a friend to all.”

The benefit, from 4 to 8 p.m., will feature a basket raffle, a bake sale run by Bonnie, side raffles and 50/50 drawings. The family is also selling Oliver’s candy bars.

Judy said doctors have told Carrie the chemo is working and the cancer is not spreading. The family are firm believers in prayer and while they hope everyone will come and support the benefit, they ask those who cannot come to say a prayer for Carrie.