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Help Heather's fight against Adenocarcinoma

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I'm Jennifer, Heather's older sister and lifelong partner-in-crime. Her whole life, she's been a ball of energy, using her heart and passion to help others. She worked for decades in animal rescue, and volunteered countless hours to help her son's schools and sports teams. She shows up again and again for her friends and family in big, beautiful ways. She's done all of this in spite of a lifetime of challenging health obstacles, from dozens of autoimmune diseases and potentially life-threatening allergies to an unexpected heart condition that resulted in her needing to have a pacemaker put in last December, at only 43. Each time she has faced these difficult diagnoses, she has picked herself up, dusted herself off, and continued to fight. She's got more grit in her pinky toe than most people will ever know.

This year has been the most challenging for her yet. Several months ago she started experiencing terrible digestive issues, which left her unable to keep anything down for many weeks. She was literally starving to death. She saw several doctors and took herself to the emergency room many times. Each time, they sent her away without any real answers or hope. In October, she knew that if she didn't receive the right help right away that she might not make it. She went to U of M, where doctor's immediately found an obstruction in her lower intestine that they suspected was scar tissue. It wasn't.

Late that night, much later than expected, her husband called me. His voice was shaking as he told me that they found a mass, and they suspected it was cancerous. They removed it during surgery, but Heather would have a difficult recovery as they had to take more of her intestine than was expected. Christmas is her favorite time of year, and it was her goal to heal so that she get home to spend this special time with her family. We are so happy to have her back home right now.

In the weeks that have followed, we have received more bad news. Heather has Stage 3 Adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. It was also found in a lymph node. Heather will have to take on her toughest battle yet, as she undergoes several rounds of chemotherapy. This will be especially difficult for someone who is already very immune-compromised. But, if you know and love her like I do, you know that she's tough as nails, and we very much believe that she can do this.

All of this being said, we're smart enough to know that we probably can't do it all alone. She's a natural-born fighter, but she's going to need more help. She is unable to work. He husband will need to miss work to help care for her. And, the mounting medical bills are inevitable. She's had so much to worry about for so long. I would love to be able to give her one less thing to lose sleep over as she fights to get healthy again for herself and her family.

I know it's Christmas, and inflation is terrible, and times are tough for so many. But, if you have the means to help lift my sister up during this incredibly difficult time, it would mean the world to her, and to all of us lucky enough to know and love her. (...And, if her know and love her, you also know that she hates that I'm doing this because she isn't someone who likes to ask for help...but as her older/wiser sibling, I'm playing the big sister card right now.)

She's the best mom, and auntie, and dog-mom, and bird- & chicken-mom, and sister, and daughter, and wife, and friend. She's the best. And none of this is even a little bit fair. But, we choose hope. And, if all you can spare are big prayers at this time, we would certainly love those too.

Thank you,
Heather's Big Sis


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Donations 

  • James Finetti
    • $125
    • 9 mos
  • Dianne M Neihengen
    • $100
    • 9 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 9 mos
  • Tina and Jeremy Richmond
    • $150
    • 11 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $250
    • 11 mos
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Organizer

Jennifer Provenzano
Organizer
Hartland Township, MI

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