Help Jennifer Gravley Fight Stage 4 Colon Cancer

NOTE: This current fundraiser will be closing within the week as a new GoFundMe has been started for our family by our dear friends Brian and Jessica Krock since Jennifer passed away Feb. 10, 2024. 

The NEW link is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-gravley-family


(Note: this fundraiser has been active since Sept. 2022 and the money coming in has been helping to sustain Jennifer and Anthony throughout this process.)

On Friday, July 28, 2002, Jennifer Gravley went to the ER due to weakness and severe abdominal pain. Blood work and abdominal CT scans were performed. Several blood tests were abnormal, and the CT scans showed some areas of concern, so Jennifer was referred to a medical oncologist. Jennifer saw the oncologist Monday, Aug. 1 and was given very unexpected life-altering news.
Jennifer has STAGE 4 COLON CANCER!
The primary tumor is in the cecal part of her colon. There is a very large liver tumor as well as several smaller liver tumors. There are tumors / nodules in both lungs.
 Jennifer was immediately started on VERY aggressive chemotherapy.
For over a year now, various combinations of those chemotherapy regimens (FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, etc) and immunotherapy drugs have been adjusted due to toxicities, side effects, neuropathy, etc. Aggressive chemotherapy 3 days straight (including 2 days with an at-home chemo pump) every 2 weeks has taken a toll for sure. There has been a “mixed response” to treatment overall. 
 Jennifer went out of town to another cancer center for a second opinion on possible treatment options (radiation, surgery, targeted therapies, etc) and things looked hopeful. After having to take a break from chemotherapy summer 2023 due to multiple hospitalizations (including a very tough battle with C Diff) there was progression in all tumor sites, so those plans had to be put aside. Jennifer started back on aggressive chemotherapy with the addition of a new immunotherapy drug. Jennifer and her husband Anthony are bother educators / teachers. Jennifer had to take a leave of absence from her teaching position with the hopes of returning after that Christmas, but there just wasn’t the positive response to chemotherapy that was expected / hoped for. Anthony taught that school year, but due to the toll of the chemotherapy and Jennifer’s overall weakness (she needs assistance standing, walking, going to the restroom, etc), Anthony had to take an unpaid leave of absence this school year as well. Jennifer was able to get approved for disability in late spring 2023, but only gets around $1100 a month. The medical bills for treatments, scans, medications, etc. continue to grow. There is no savings account or any sort of financial safety net, so they are going to need quite a bit of assistance during this very difficult battle! Anthony had planned to get at least part time job to help with finances, but is now unable to safely leave Jennifer for more than 30 minutes to make necessary trips to the store, pharmacy, etc. As some of you may know Jennifer and Anthony were the primary caregivers for both sets of their parents prior to Jennifer’s diagnosis and dedicated so much time and love to their care. They sadly lost all 4 of their parents between summer 2020 and Jan. 1, 2023. Jennifer’s life altering diagnosis came just a few months after the loss of her mother. It’s been (and continues to be) a very hard time for the whole family. Along with the ever growing medical and living expenses, there are some urgent home repairs that need to be done as well. The only drivable vehicle that they have to get Jennifer to her weekly appointments is also in need of suspension work and other repairs. Thank you in advance for any and all help, support and prayers. If you would rather make a donation via mail or directly through PayPal, Venmo, etc., please reach out, and we will supply that information. (The GoFundMe goal amount will likely be adjusted as things continue to unfold.) Be sure to scroll down and check the “updates” section regularly as that will be where the latest information is posted.