NOTE, GO TO NEW FUNDRAISER PAGE FOR LATEST STATUS AND TO DONATE
gofundme updated their system in September, 2020 and this page did not get updated. It can no longer accept donations as a result. We have created a new fundraiser page that can accept donations. Please visit our new fundraiser at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jamie-del-balso-round3 for our current status. Unfortunately Jamie's cancer is back. Full details can be found their and new donations can be made there.
This is Hard
Helping a dyslexic child to read is hard. Homeschooling four young children is hard. Starting a business is hard. Being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer is hard. Being given two years to live is hard. Having to ask for/receive help is hard. Disclosing our financial situation is hard. This is hard!
Breast Cancer Round One
We took a step of faith in April of 2018 when Ryan quit his job. Our plan was to sell our house and road school our four kids (ages 12, 10, 7, and 3) for at least a year. At the time we thought the change of jobs was for Ryan’s health, little did we know it would be for both of ours. I didn’t feel sick, yet I had a lump. In May 2018, I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. We followed God and changed plans.
Breast Cancer Round Two
My body responded very well to treatment. In June 2019, all my treatment was complete and a CT Scan came back negative – no cancer was found in my body. In January 2020, I started having headaches then migraines, which I had never had before. They were getting worse; medication wasn’t helping, so I went to the ER. A CT Scan of my brain showed a lesion in my brain. They sent me by ambulance to the Neuro ICU at UW Hospitals and Clinics in Madison. An MRI showed a ping pong ball sized tumor in my brain and a lot of swelling with it. A few days later on Sunday, February 2nd they were able to remove the large tumor from my cerebellum. The doctors and nurses told me that I would be dizzy and likely using a walker after surgery, and likely need inpatient physical therapy for up to two weeks. God was with me and the doctors during the surgery. I was not dizzy, did not need a walker and left the hospital two days later. No physical therapy nor occupational therapy required. It was AMAZING! God is AMAZING!
Prognosis
The radiation oncologist answered our questions honestly and confirmed I have Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, and that it is not curable. She let us know that they expect the cancer will very likely reappear somewhere else in my body within one year, and the median life expectancy for this disease is only two years, for some its less than a year. We cried, we held hands, we hugged. We have hope; my age, health, receptiveness to previous treatment, and no cancer anywhere else in my body are on my side. However, we have to plan for the worst to make the most of the time that I have left. We will continue to hope and pray for the best.
Next Steps/Treatment Plan
They will begin radiation the first week of March on the remnant of the main brain tumor and a couple other smaller lesions that were found. Another problem is the blood brain barrier, the most effective medications cannot cross it. Since the PET Scan came back negative for cancer in the rest of my body the question is what to do about chemotherapy – treat me preventatively with the most effective drugs that can’t cross into the brain, or use a less effective drug that has some ability to penetrate the blood brain barrier? They are still working on a recommendation for chemo.
Our Current Circumstances
After my initial cancer diagnosis, Ryan came up with an idea for a new pillow design. We took steps of faith and some risks to start a business to bring it to market. Unfortunately, it has been slower than hoped to get up and running, and we are now in a tough spot financially. In business, the first years of starting a company are often referred to as “the lean years.” We are blessed that I have great health coverage at the moment, but we don’t have much money coming in and are living off of our retirement funds to give the business a shot. My insurance covers our traditional medical expenses, however, with this diagnosis we want to try to support my body with alternative treatments which are not covered. We also need to cover our living expenses as my treatments have pulled, and will continue to pull, Ryan away from the business for some time. In addition to these expenses, we still have the dream to road school, but we likely will have to take short trips between doctor appointments and treatments. After all, I won’t be able to travel during retirement like most people do. Your support will help us spend time together as a family now so we can build lasting memories for Ryan and the children.
How You Can Support and Follow Us
Many people have expressed interest in helping us, and many have already helped with meals, child care, animal care, cleaning, etc. There are several ways you can help us. This GoFundMe campaign is one way to summarize the need that we currently face and give people a simple way to help. Some have already given gas cards and food cards, but we only have so much need for gas and food. We also need people to help spread the word about Ryan’s new business, WakeWell. It is a great place to get a new, customizable pillow. If you prefer to give through a meal you can sign up to give a meal here: Take Them a Meal, or contact us if you wish to give other direct help.
You can also follow us on our blog at: LifeMoreImportant.com. We will be providing some updates on this GoFundMe page, but we will be using LifeMoreImportant.com as our primary means of keeping people updated. We also have more pictures there and a more detailed description of my cancer journey. Please join us there.
Please join our support team through prayer, financial giving, and/or sharing your gifts and talents with us. We know that God will provide and is in control of our finances and my health. We trust in Him and thank him for all the help we have received.
Thank you,
Jamie (and Ryan)
From Ryan:
The above letter was written by Jamie. As her husband, I set up this campaign for her. I want to briefly share a little from my perspective as well, including how amazing Jamie is and how thankful we are for all your support. Not only is Jamie an amazing wife and mother, but she is also an amazing cook, a great friend, generous, kind, helpful, and she loves God above all else. She makes me and the kids better every day. She homeschools our four kids while also running our household, and did so throughout her first cancer treatments. Not only that, but while she was waiting in the hospital for brain surgery, she was coordinating schooling for the kids to make sure they would still get some education while she was in the hospital recovering. She also directed me as to what to get from home for the kids and her, and I think in her spare time she was reading theology and helping set the nursing schedule for the ICU (j/k on that last one...that was after surgery). She is too humble to share these things with others, but she is amazing and is loved by many, but most of all by us. We are heartbroken by this and are scared of what may come, but hopeful for the best. Please consider supporting us as a family so we can focus on caring for Jamie and building memories with her for the kids. We truly don't know what the future will bring. Life is not fair, but we trust in God as our provider and healer.
Thank you,
Ryan
Del Balso Family Christmas 2016: Pre-Cancer
Del Balso Family Picture 2018: Mid-Chemo Treatments During First Round of Cancer
Ryan and Jamie Selfie, February 2020: Post Brain Surgery
Jamie Selfie, Summer 2018: During Chemo Treatments
Ryan and Jamie Selfie, February 2020: First Day Home and First Walk Outside After Brain Surgery
gofundme updated their system in September, 2020 and this page did not get updated. It can no longer accept donations as a result. We have created a new fundraiser page that can accept donations. Please visit our new fundraiser at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jamie-del-balso-round3 for our current status. Unfortunately Jamie's cancer is back. Full details can be found their and new donations can be made there.
This is Hard
Helping a dyslexic child to read is hard. Homeschooling four young children is hard. Starting a business is hard. Being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer is hard. Being given two years to live is hard. Having to ask for/receive help is hard. Disclosing our financial situation is hard. This is hard!
Breast Cancer Round One
We took a step of faith in April of 2018 when Ryan quit his job. Our plan was to sell our house and road school our four kids (ages 12, 10, 7, and 3) for at least a year. At the time we thought the change of jobs was for Ryan’s health, little did we know it would be for both of ours. I didn’t feel sick, yet I had a lump. In May 2018, I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. We followed God and changed plans.
Breast Cancer Round Two
My body responded very well to treatment. In June 2019, all my treatment was complete and a CT Scan came back negative – no cancer was found in my body. In January 2020, I started having headaches then migraines, which I had never had before. They were getting worse; medication wasn’t helping, so I went to the ER. A CT Scan of my brain showed a lesion in my brain. They sent me by ambulance to the Neuro ICU at UW Hospitals and Clinics in Madison. An MRI showed a ping pong ball sized tumor in my brain and a lot of swelling with it. A few days later on Sunday, February 2nd they were able to remove the large tumor from my cerebellum. The doctors and nurses told me that I would be dizzy and likely using a walker after surgery, and likely need inpatient physical therapy for up to two weeks. God was with me and the doctors during the surgery. I was not dizzy, did not need a walker and left the hospital two days later. No physical therapy nor occupational therapy required. It was AMAZING! God is AMAZING!
Prognosis
The radiation oncologist answered our questions honestly and confirmed I have Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, and that it is not curable. She let us know that they expect the cancer will very likely reappear somewhere else in my body within one year, and the median life expectancy for this disease is only two years, for some its less than a year. We cried, we held hands, we hugged. We have hope; my age, health, receptiveness to previous treatment, and no cancer anywhere else in my body are on my side. However, we have to plan for the worst to make the most of the time that I have left. We will continue to hope and pray for the best.
Next Steps/Treatment Plan
They will begin radiation the first week of March on the remnant of the main brain tumor and a couple other smaller lesions that were found. Another problem is the blood brain barrier, the most effective medications cannot cross it. Since the PET Scan came back negative for cancer in the rest of my body the question is what to do about chemotherapy – treat me preventatively with the most effective drugs that can’t cross into the brain, or use a less effective drug that has some ability to penetrate the blood brain barrier? They are still working on a recommendation for chemo.
Our Current Circumstances
After my initial cancer diagnosis, Ryan came up with an idea for a new pillow design. We took steps of faith and some risks to start a business to bring it to market. Unfortunately, it has been slower than hoped to get up and running, and we are now in a tough spot financially. In business, the first years of starting a company are often referred to as “the lean years.” We are blessed that I have great health coverage at the moment, but we don’t have much money coming in and are living off of our retirement funds to give the business a shot. My insurance covers our traditional medical expenses, however, with this diagnosis we want to try to support my body with alternative treatments which are not covered. We also need to cover our living expenses as my treatments have pulled, and will continue to pull, Ryan away from the business for some time. In addition to these expenses, we still have the dream to road school, but we likely will have to take short trips between doctor appointments and treatments. After all, I won’t be able to travel during retirement like most people do. Your support will help us spend time together as a family now so we can build lasting memories for Ryan and the children.
How You Can Support and Follow Us
Many people have expressed interest in helping us, and many have already helped with meals, child care, animal care, cleaning, etc. There are several ways you can help us. This GoFundMe campaign is one way to summarize the need that we currently face and give people a simple way to help. Some have already given gas cards and food cards, but we only have so much need for gas and food. We also need people to help spread the word about Ryan’s new business, WakeWell. It is a great place to get a new, customizable pillow. If you prefer to give through a meal you can sign up to give a meal here: Take Them a Meal, or contact us if you wish to give other direct help.
You can also follow us on our blog at: LifeMoreImportant.com. We will be providing some updates on this GoFundMe page, but we will be using LifeMoreImportant.com as our primary means of keeping people updated. We also have more pictures there and a more detailed description of my cancer journey. Please join us there.
Please join our support team through prayer, financial giving, and/or sharing your gifts and talents with us. We know that God will provide and is in control of our finances and my health. We trust in Him and thank him for all the help we have received.
Thank you,
Jamie (and Ryan)
From Ryan:
The above letter was written by Jamie. As her husband, I set up this campaign for her. I want to briefly share a little from my perspective as well, including how amazing Jamie is and how thankful we are for all your support. Not only is Jamie an amazing wife and mother, but she is also an amazing cook, a great friend, generous, kind, helpful, and she loves God above all else. She makes me and the kids better every day. She homeschools our four kids while also running our household, and did so throughout her first cancer treatments. Not only that, but while she was waiting in the hospital for brain surgery, she was coordinating schooling for the kids to make sure they would still get some education while she was in the hospital recovering. She also directed me as to what to get from home for the kids and her, and I think in her spare time she was reading theology and helping set the nursing schedule for the ICU (j/k on that last one...that was after surgery). She is too humble to share these things with others, but she is amazing and is loved by many, but most of all by us. We are heartbroken by this and are scared of what may come, but hopeful for the best. Please consider supporting us as a family so we can focus on caring for Jamie and building memories with her for the kids. We truly don't know what the future will bring. Life is not fair, but we trust in God as our provider and healer.
Thank you,
Ryan
Del Balso Family Christmas 2016: Pre-Cancer
Del Balso Family Picture 2018: Mid-Chemo Treatments During First Round of Cancer
Ryan and Jamie Selfie, February 2020: Post Brain Surgery
Jamie Selfie, Summer 2018: During Chemo Treatments
Ryan and Jamie Selfie, February 2020: First Day Home and First Walk Outside After Brain Surgery