Help Juanita fight Cancer

This fundraising campaign is a collective effort led by Juanita's friends, fellow members of the pickleball community, and her three children.

Juanita has always been a beacon of kindness and a unifier of people. Now, it's her turn to lean on her community for support. The Arrant Ohana has been thrust into a challenging battle against cancer as they rally behind their mother, Juanita Arrant.

On August 27th, 2022, Juanita and Mike celebrated their remarkable 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by close friends and family. Little did they know that this night would mark a dramatic turning point in their lives. As the festivities wound down, Juanita attempted to stand up and walk, but an excruciating pain in her leg left her screaming in agony, immobilized.

An ambulance ride, a night in the ER, and several subsequent nights in the ICU led to a devastating diagnosis. Juanita was battling Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that had ravaged her bone marrow, rendering her femur so fragile that it fractured on the very night of their anniversary.

In the blink of an eye, Juanita went from playing pickleball for hours and sharing meals with friends to facing surgery to remove 10 inches of her femur and replace it with titanium. Throughout this journey, she endured countless tests, biopsies, MRI scans, CAT scans, frequent blood draws, weeks in rehab learning to walk again, and extended hospital stays, all with incredible strength.

Over the past 14 months, Juanita's health journey has been a rollercoaster. The latest setback saw her placed on a ventilator during an ER visit, with her kidneys ceasing to function, possibly permanently. Her initial cancer treatments have stopped working and she's now embarking on a new treatment regimen, with hope and prayers that it will conquer the cancer cells.

Through it all, Juanita's unbreakable Hawaiian spirit has persevered, and she has remained upbeat and maintained her optimism. She continues to pray and trust in GOD, is devoted to her bible study and sits peacefully in God’s loving guidance and power. She loves to play nightly games of pinochle with Mike and her daughters and cherishing visits from her sons, Michael and Matt, along with their families, despite the geographical distances.

Juanita has played an integral role in her community and has touched so many lives. In Oregon, she served as a PE and Health teacher for numerous years, coached volleyball, worked at athletic events, organized many camps and tournaments and contributed in countless other ways. In Washington, she was instrumental in establishing the first Tapps Island Pickleball club, ran numerous tournaments and events, organized Hula camps, and radiated joy wherever she went.

Now, Juanita needs our help. Her mounting medical bills, covering cancer treatments, dialysis, physical therapy, surgeries, scans, and extensive hospital stays, have placed an enormous burden on her and her family.

Furthermore, Juanita's dream of returning to her native Hawaii to reconnect with her roots, family, and friends awaits. Her children and their families plan to accompany her on this journey, which holds profound significance.

In this challenging time, Juanita’s ohana and community are reaching out for support, offering two meaningful ways to show love and help Juanita:

Prayers & Positive Thoughts: We encourage everyone to send their prayers and positive thoughts to Juanita, visualizing her full recovery and return to good health.

Donations: Your financial contribution to her GoFundMe campaign will assist in covering the extensive costs incurred over the past year, including medical bills, insurance deductibles, chemotherapy care, meals, and various therapies. Additionally, your support will help make her dream of visiting Hawaii a reality. Every donation, regardless of size, makes a significant impact and is deeply appreciated. Juanita is lucky to have such a supportive community of caring friends and family.

Much Aloha!