Help Jason Hollenback's Family Through Medical Struggles

Hello family and friends! We are raising money to help pay our $6,000 insurance deductible (max out of pocket) due to my recent and upcoming surgeries as a result of being BRCA1 positive (more information about that below). The amount raised will also go towards keeping up with groceries, mortgage, and utilities. My husband, Lt. Jason Hollenback is currently on Family Medical Leave, which unfortunately, alters and significantly decreases his monthly pay. Being on FMLA does not allow him to work his second job either.

On July 15th I received confirmation that I am BRCA1 positive - pathogenic (disease causing) variant. What that means for me is my risk of developing breast cancer is 80%+ and ovarian cancer 60%+. I also have an increased risk of developing melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and a few others as research continues to find more and more links. With this being hereditary, there is a 50% chance that it has passed to our son, Dominic, who will be tested once he is an adult. If he is also positive, he is at an increased risk of developing male breast cancer, prostate cancer, and the other cancers that being BRCA1 positive include. There will also be a 50% chance of him passing the gene mutation to his future children.

After a lot of consideration and even more tears, with the help of my incredible husband and specialists, I decided that I would NOT take the chance and I chose to be proactive! On Tuesday, September 24th, I had a total mastectomy (with reconstruction). This surgery alone will have me recovering and Jason out of work for 6-8 weeks. Once I am healed from that surgery, on November 19th, I will be going in for a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. That surgery will have Jason out of work for another 6 weeks while I go through a second recovery.

Today (October 2, 2024) is National Previvor Day and it is part of National Hereditary Cancer Week, September 29–October 5th. A Previvor is a person who has a genetic predisposition to cancer but has not been diagnosed with cancer. I am now a Previvor (in progress).

I completely understand if you are unable to donate but I do ask you to please share. Thank you, truly for any help possible. After losing our oldest son, Zachary, 5 1/2 years ago, I could not stand to have my family go through this as well.

I also urge you, any of you, who have a strong family history of hereditary cancer to please reach out to your healthcare providers and go through with genetic testing. The feeling of having some semblance of control over my health has been incredible...painful, but incredible.