Jess’s Journey

My beautiful niece, Jess Ramsdell Babel, is fighting a battle against Stage III Metastatic Melanoma (skin cancer which has spread from the skin cells to the lymph nodes).

Jess is the wife of Jason Babel and the mom of two wonderful little boys James and Jack. She is a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin and a friend to many!!

Jess was diagnosed with melanoma on her skin in 2019 and has been treating it one way or another ever since. She was referred to Wilmot Cancer Institute - University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) from the onset and continues to go there for all of her tests, scans, appointments and treatments.

In July Jess noticed a growth on her groin that was quite painful and growing. She had an ultrasound done in Watertown, and it was recommended that she go back to the specialist at URMC. Her doctor there did a biopsy which showed the cancer had metastasized to the lymph nodes.

Her doctor suggested that she begin immunotherapy and started her on Keytruda in October. She had two rounds of Keytruda and then surgery on December 28th to remove the lymph nodes. Once she gets the pathologist’s report back she will need further surgery to close her incision using skin grafts. After her incision heals she’ll continue immunotherapy and then be set up for targeted radiation.

I have started this Go Fund Me account to try to ease some of their burden. Over the foreseeable days, weeks, and months ahead Jess will have countless doctor appointments and have more hospital stays, all of which will be in Rochester, where Jason will have to stay in a hotel.

So, as you can imagine, her travel expenses and Jason’s overnight stays along with her medical bills are astronomical.

Jess is a self-employed hair dresser and has not been able to work during this time and does not foresee going back to work anytime in the near future.

From the bottom of my heart I humbly ask that you share this link with friends and family and if possible give in any amount that you can.

I thank you for your support and God Bless each and every one of you!!

Mary Ramsdell a.k.a - Meme