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Chemo Treatments for Jessica Rae

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First, Thank you to everyone who has donated to help Jessica!  Your time, prayers and gift are very appreciated! 

October 24, 2018 - update:  Jessica still does not have a decision on chemo treatment.  There is no  Avastin planned for  October 26th - a second treatment missed.   
Monday, October 22, 2018, on the phone we had a representative from Caremark Pharmacy, a Nurse Navigator from Hospital of University of Pennsylvania and a Nurse Navigator from Health Advocates from the employer, Blue Shield Pre Cert specialist, Jessica and her Mom.  After 1 hour 20 minute call no decision could be made sadly.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America advised on October 23,  2018, their team won't  see Jessica now until they can evaluate her "HEALTH iNSURANCE " status on November 1st and won't be able to see her for 6 - 8 additional weeks.  Their team without seeing her or viewing records has decided they do not agree with the current treatment plan.  

Glioblastoma tumors spread quickly and are the most invasive type of brain tumor. Due to the severity of a GBM-4, we needed to act immediately to keep the tumor from spreading....WE MUST GET STARTED!

Any donation big or small is greatly appreciated!
Jessica has  missed her second dose of Avastin that was due October 12, 2018  due to specialty pharmacy and hospital rules.   We are trying so hard to find a new place to go but until then we need help to pay the costs privately.  The cost of the drug only - every 2 weeks is $2,000+ and not including infusion services.

Avastin
is the last chemo drug for Jessica. We've been told by the University of Pennsylvania to find another place to go for the drug and its infusion .  Cancer Treatment centers of America has the drug approved for her if we can get to Chicago but are trying to see if we can get the Avastin at their Pennsylvania center.   Tower Health Pottstown's Cancer Center has agreed to see her on Friday, October 19th but they do not have a neuro oncologist only general oncology.

Jessica is 37 and the squirt with her in the photos is Hannah Rose her 10 year old daughter.    

Diagnosed 4 months after her father passed away from primary, first generation, Glioblastoma in 1999 and 2 months before graduating high school, Jessica underwent surgery for her first HEREDITARY tumor in 2004 and was left paralyzed on the left side.  With physical therapy and a few weeks her leg returned followed by the left arm. 

Yes, anyone reading this BRAIN TUMORS CAN BE HEREDITARY!! DO GET YOUR CHILDREN CHECKED. 

Jessica has had several tumor surgeries and radiation treatments since 2004 at the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson University.  January 2017 saw a change in the cells from benign to oligodendroglioma (grade 2).  The next 11 months were spent on Temodar an oral chemotherapy with the last of those months adding a second chemo drug, Lomustine.  Neither were able to stop the development of yet another tumor.

Jessica kept saying something was “different or wrong” but it wasn't showing on the MRI's so the standard chemo continued until August 3, 2018 when the tumor lit up on a follow up MRI in the matter of weeks.  A 4th craniotomy was done on August 23, 2018.  A week later pathology was Glioblastoma (grade 4).   I think even the doctors were 

Rebuilding a life time and time again, Jessica is and has been a strong young woman, owning a home now sold and living with her mother and step father, raising a child alone and working full-time during and through every ordeal.

Jessica is worthy of a chance at good care that could leave her able to be alive and being a Mom raising her daughter Hannah.  Life is never the same after brain surgery, for anyone, something is always different and we’ve been blessed to still be in this journey but we shouldn't have to lose due to arbitrary rules of hospitals and insurance companies.                                                                                     

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Donations 

  • Charles Sforza
    • $160 
    • 5 yrs
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Fundraising team: Chemo for Jessica Rae (2)

Connie Corbin-Miller
Organizer
Raised $2,790 from 24 donations
Pottstown, PA
Mary Mowry
Team member
This team raised $3,110 from 22 other donations.

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