NEDERLAND — During a routine procedure a week before Christmas, Traci Monk Woodard and family received news that turned their world upside down.

Woodard, a Nederland native and 1989 graduate and single mother to three teenage girls, was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of bladder cancer.

A benefit and blood drive to help Woodard is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, 2313 Nederland Ave., Port Neches. The event is being hosted by Traci’s Tribe.

Traci’s story

“She’s a good person all around and goes above and beyond for everyone in her life,” Jordyn Monk, Woodard’s niece, said. “She’s been through so much in her life and always the best friend to anyone who needs it even though she’s the one who needs it now.”

Longtime friend Melanie Stehle called Woodard amazing. The two have been in each other’s weddings and their kids attend school together.

“She has a huge support group and she’s phenomenal,” Stehle said. “Her attitude about the whole thing is positive and she’s staying very positive. She’s a fighter.”

Woodard had been a relatively healthy woman leading a normal life other than several issues with that doctors thought were kidney stones and kidney infections, according to information form Traci’s Tribe.

Woodard and her daughters live in a three-bedroom home with her parents, who lost their home during Tropical Storm Harvey.

“The only thing Nanny (Woodard) keeps saying is ‘It’s in God’s hands. She tells that to anyone who asks,” Monk said.

Woodard began one of the most aggressive chemotherapy regimens — it’s nicknamed “red devil” — back in January. She has lost all of her hair, eyebrows and most of her eyelashes but counters this by wearing floral scarfs.

“She looks beautiful,” she said, adding that her aunt has a good attitude. “The first thing everybody keeps telling her when they see her is ‘You look great.’”

Woodard’s chemo will end soon. She will then be rescanned to see if the drugs reduced the cancer. When that’s over comes immunotherapy.

Regardless of the outcome of the tests she will lose her bladder because her tumor is so large.

“We just have this whole army behind her, like a tribe,” she said. “And she is so deep rooted in Nederland. We all grew up there and so many people have come forward, text me daily, and ask ‘What can I do?’”

The future

“When she has the surgery she will need blood and because of that an account has been set up with LifeShare,” Monk said. “Every person who donates, whether her blood type or not, is saving a life and helping her, as well.”

LifeShare Blood Center will be at the upcoming benefit from noon to 4 p.m. Persons wishing to donate can do so in Woodard’s name so she is credited for future use.

The benefit portion of Saturday’s event includes a link sale, silent auction, raffle, bake sale, T-shirt sale and more.

For more information, go to Traci’s Tribe on Facebook.