We wanted to update everyone. We really appreciate all of you who have donated.

We also wanted to let people know we were not aware of how go fund me worked on the donation goal. We didn't realize it was changing as people donated. Our goal is $4,000. It will not change again if people contribute.

I have also been told that my description is a bit vague about her current condition. She was originally diagnosed as stage 3b colon cancer. After all that she went through and the delay in treatment she is now stage 4, with metastasis. She will likely be on chemo for as long as she can tolerate it. Other than a new, yet unknown, treatment this is the new life. There is no cure, she will be reliant on chemo to keep it at bay for as long as possible.

(Original post)

Life can change quickly and then seem to never change sometimes. My wife had been a COO of a small, family run real estate firm. Then one day, after many months of not feeling well and trying to find out why, she learned that her hemoglobin level was near critical and everything changed. She would be diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Initially the prognosis was hopeful, start chemo aggressively and since she is young, she could stand a very good chance of full recovery. During her second round of chemo she went into septic shock and once again life changed rapidly and permanently. It would be nearly 2 months before she would see her home again. The first 3 days while in a coma and very close to never going home again but she is a fighter and with several blood transfusion and too many plasma transfusions to count, she pulled through. She had to learn to walk again, feed herself and all the other little things we take for granted. Meanwhile the chemo she needed to fight the cancer was delayed until she was strong enough to handle it. After many battles to fight repeated infections, it was decided to do a major surgery and remove a kidney, colon resection and hysterectomy, along with 50 lymph nodes. The recovery was long and chemo delayed. She would resume and finish her required amount. Again things looked hopeful for a short time until a scan for spinal problems revealed a recurrence in her lymph nodes and one lung. She has now started a new chemo regimen. While we have dealt with the financial difficulties better than expected, she was very good at being prepared, it's quickly approaching the 2-year mark since this all started. She has not and for some time, likely will not be able to work. That alone we could deal with but the added medical bills and self-covering her insurance has become a little more than we can absorb. With new deductibles coming due at the start of the year, we decided we should probably, for once, ask for some help.

Those of you who know Jen, know she is one of the most honest and selfless people you meet. She loves her cat, husband and penguins so much. I don't ask her in what order we rate though. She has always been someone who has taken care of herself and not asked for help, even when needed. This is one of those moments in life when fighting for it overrides the independence of going it alone.

We appreciate anything people can contribute.