Rally for Jennifer Koel
It's still hard to even comprehend. My beautiful little sister, Jennifer Koel, complained about stomach pains last December. We could never have imagined how the following weeks would unfold, ultimately leading to her devastating diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which has spread to her liver and lymph nodes, in February 2017.
Quick facts
- There is no remission or cure.
- There are 2 kinds of pancreatic cancer. The "good" kind (that Steve Jobs had), and the "bad"kind (that Jen has).
Recommended treatment
Her oncology team at Royal Columbian Hospital and BC Cancer Agency recommended only one treatment option - chemotherapy. The most aggressive kind available. Until it stops working. Jen started immediately.
Naturopathic medicine and alternative treatments
Jen has lived a healthy, clean, vegetarian lifestlye for decades. It was an easy choice to start naturopathic medicine and alternative treatments. These treatments are approved by her oncology team. Although treatments are not covered by medical, and can cost $2,500+/month, she wants to do everything possible to improve her quality of life and extend it as long as possible.
Jen's reasons to fight
Jen's tremendous courage, strength, positivity and fight are all for her family. In the last 4 years, she got engaged, married, pregnant and had a beautiful baby boy. Her son is almost two years old.
A huge thanks
Jennifer is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from family, friends, neighbours, co-workers and voluteers from work. The thoughts, prayers, visits, care packages, meals and rides to/from appointments have given her tremendous strength, and she is forever grateful.
How you can help Jen
Friends and family keep on asking for ways to help. Having Jen be able to continue her daily/bi-weekly naturopathic medicine and alternative treatments is my wish for her. These treatments are costly. I would love nothing more for her to be able to focus on her fight, rather than worry about how to cover these expenses.
Please "like" the gofundme and facebook posts, and share this link through social media, email and texts: www.gofundme.com/JenniferKoel
My deepest thanks. xo