Medical equipment for Jessica
Donation protected
Jessica Strong. That's where this story should start. Most of you know all about Jessica Strong. Jessica is our daughter, who was diagnosed with Chondro Sarcoma, a very rare form of Bone Cancer.
A very large tumor had developed in Jessica's shoulder. The doctors decided that they would need to amputate her right arm along with her shoulder blade. Fortunately, it was decided that they would need to only remove the shoulder blade. In 2009 she had a total Scapulectomy (removal of her right shoulder blade.)
For the average person, this would have been difficult. But for Jessica, who is 4 feet tall and suffers from extensive deformities and shortness on the right side of her body this caused her a lot of discomfort and difficulty. Jessica is no longer able to raise her right arm.
In 2012 it was discovered that the Cancer had spread from her shoulder to her lungs. It was at this time that she was given a prognosis / life expectancy of 1 to 5 years. Over these past 4 years she has developed many more tumors in her lungs and they have been growing steadily.
In 2014 Jessica was once again told that the cancer had spread and it was now in her right leg. After suffering in severe pain and a poor quality of life, it was decided that she needed to have her right leg amputated above the knee. In 2015 she lost her leg to Cancer.
For the first 6 months after her amputation her life was wonderful. She was able to enjoy life pain free and get around in her wheelchair and enjoy life again, something she had given up hope on.
Six months after the amputation, she started having pain in her pelvic area, and it grew more intense. The doctor ordered scans to be done.
She was diagnosed yet again, with cancer, this time having spread to her pelvis. The tumor was over 7 centimeters in size.
As of August 2016, the tumor in her pelvis is now over 10 centimeters in size. The largest tumor in her lung is 5 centimeters.
Here we are 4 years later and she is still fighting for her place on this earth. She is the strongest person I have ever known. When Jessica's diagnosis was given to us, we all asked the question, how long? How long will she still be here with us? The answer was , Less than a year would be surprising; possibly one to two years. But no definitive answer could really be given.
In the past two months, Jessica has been hospitalized several times due to respiratory problems. She is now on oxygen 24 hours a day. She suffers from chronic fatigue, and acute anemia. She can no longer live on her own , and we have brought her home to live with us, which is what brings us to this go fund me page.
Our home is not accesible for Jessica. We are in need of medical equipment in our home to help take care of her, as well as needing modifications done to her wheelchair that are not covered by her insurance.
We were at a recent equipment appointment with Jessica discussing what was needed for our home and were told we would need $12,000 to cover the immediate expenses. Unfortunately, we are unable to cover the costs of the medical equipment that is necessary to help care for Jessica's needs.
Asking for help is not an easy thing for us to do. But here we are, regardless. I am sitting here writing this, asking for your help at the suggestion of several of Jessica's healthcare professionals.
Jessica has decided to spend her remaining time at home with us, and receive her medical treatment here, rather than receiving medical treatment via in house hospice care.
It is our hope that we can make Jessica as comfortable as possible and we are turning to you, and asking for your help with this.
Thank you for taking the time to read Jessica's story and and if possible, helping us raise the funds to aquire the medical equipment she needs in order to stay here with us.
Jessica Strong!
A very large tumor had developed in Jessica's shoulder. The doctors decided that they would need to amputate her right arm along with her shoulder blade. Fortunately, it was decided that they would need to only remove the shoulder blade. In 2009 she had a total Scapulectomy (removal of her right shoulder blade.)
For the average person, this would have been difficult. But for Jessica, who is 4 feet tall and suffers from extensive deformities and shortness on the right side of her body this caused her a lot of discomfort and difficulty. Jessica is no longer able to raise her right arm.
In 2012 it was discovered that the Cancer had spread from her shoulder to her lungs. It was at this time that she was given a prognosis / life expectancy of 1 to 5 years. Over these past 4 years she has developed many more tumors in her lungs and they have been growing steadily.
In 2014 Jessica was once again told that the cancer had spread and it was now in her right leg. After suffering in severe pain and a poor quality of life, it was decided that she needed to have her right leg amputated above the knee. In 2015 she lost her leg to Cancer.
For the first 6 months after her amputation her life was wonderful. She was able to enjoy life pain free and get around in her wheelchair and enjoy life again, something she had given up hope on.
Six months after the amputation, she started having pain in her pelvic area, and it grew more intense. The doctor ordered scans to be done.
She was diagnosed yet again, with cancer, this time having spread to her pelvis. The tumor was over 7 centimeters in size.
As of August 2016, the tumor in her pelvis is now over 10 centimeters in size. The largest tumor in her lung is 5 centimeters.
Here we are 4 years later and she is still fighting for her place on this earth. She is the strongest person I have ever known. When Jessica's diagnosis was given to us, we all asked the question, how long? How long will she still be here with us? The answer was , Less than a year would be surprising; possibly one to two years. But no definitive answer could really be given.
In the past two months, Jessica has been hospitalized several times due to respiratory problems. She is now on oxygen 24 hours a day. She suffers from chronic fatigue, and acute anemia. She can no longer live on her own , and we have brought her home to live with us, which is what brings us to this go fund me page.
Our home is not accesible for Jessica. We are in need of medical equipment in our home to help take care of her, as well as needing modifications done to her wheelchair that are not covered by her insurance.
We were at a recent equipment appointment with Jessica discussing what was needed for our home and were told we would need $12,000 to cover the immediate expenses. Unfortunately, we are unable to cover the costs of the medical equipment that is necessary to help care for Jessica's needs.
Asking for help is not an easy thing for us to do. But here we are, regardless. I am sitting here writing this, asking for your help at the suggestion of several of Jessica's healthcare professionals.
Jessica has decided to spend her remaining time at home with us, and receive her medical treatment here, rather than receiving medical treatment via in house hospice care.
It is our hope that we can make Jessica as comfortable as possible and we are turning to you, and asking for your help with this.
Thank you for taking the time to read Jessica's story and and if possible, helping us raise the funds to aquire the medical equipment she needs in order to stay here with us.
Jessica Strong!
Organizer
Doreen Forbes
Organizer
Hooksett, NH
