Help Jen beat the odds against Stage 4 Cancer
Donation protected
I am a long time friend of Jennifer Harris, recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon cancer. The shock came to me on July 2nd when Jen sent me a text with her news. She was too upset to say the words, so we communicated by text for a few weeks before she had the courage and strength to talk about it. Jen's cancer struck her aggressively, giving her little time to think about what was happening. With her physician's guidance, however, she reacted quickly and began her fight.
Around Easter time, Jen began to experience minor symptoms such as constant pain in her right shoulder and right side, which she endured for a few weeks.....symptoms that one would not initially tie to having life-threatening GI issues. Shortly thereafter, bloating, constipation and the inability to eat set in, along with the loss of about 20 pounds in one month.
A few weeks later, Jen started noticing pressure under her right rib cage. This was the result of the formation of multiple tumors in her liver, which ultimately spread to her lungs, making it difficult to for her breathe.
Due to COVID restrictions, there were no physicians who would see her in person. She made several frustrating attempts to seek medical help, but finally contacted her former primary care physician who agreed to see her on June 2nd. After Jen described her symptoms, her physician quickly ordered CT scans, ultrasounds and, based upon the physician's findings, Jen was immediately referred to a GI specialist. Jen had a feeling her physician knew that day that it was cancer since her physician recommended that she speak with an oncologist. At that point, Jen had lost a total of 25 pounds.
Everything went so quickly......test after test including a liver biopsy, bone and CT scans, then lastly a PET scan. During Jen's colonoscopy, her GI doctor had to stop the procedure as a result of not being able to get the scope past the tumor in her colon because the tumor was so large. He consulted with the surgeon who had to do emergency surgery to bypass the colon to perform an ostomy procedure.
Jen's oncologist began quick but aggressive treatment by immediately starting her chemotherapy following her procedure. Leading up to chemotherapy, Jen got down to 100 pounds (total loss of 40 pounds) and continues to experience bouts of severe weakness and fatigue.
Her oncologist, located in Rome, NY, has recently referred Jen to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston, MA to explore the possibility of other treatment options to help her win her battle. Jen has her first consultation appointment on September 8th.
All while her battle is underway, she is still caring for her two young children, Aidan, age 12 and Sophie, 9. Thankfully, Jen has her mom and immediate family to help cook meals for her and for her children. They have also served as a great support system for her. However, with COVID, Jen has to carefully protect her immune system and, therefore, has to be very cautious about exposing herself to too many people, so she is primarily caring for herself and her two children.
Jen had to stop working her full time job and start a leave of absence to begin her aggressive therapy to beat her cancer. Although Jen is receiving partial disability, it is not enough.....at all. Her medical bills are starting to rack up already and she is in the early stages of her fight. For example, the cost of her liver biopsy alone was $20,000....her out-of-pocket payment responsibility for that procedure is $3,000.
I ask you to PLEASE consider donating to her cause! She is an amazing friend, single mother, daughter, sister, aunt and cousin. I also ask you to SHARE and spread Jen's story to raise awareness to always be conscious of our bodies and know when something is wrong. You need to be your own health care advocate and be persistent about seeing your doctor when you know you're not feeling just right!
Please save a life and know you are donating to a great cause. If you'd prefer to donate to Jen via Venmo @Jennifer-Harris-369 she will be grateful.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your consideration,
Kristie M. Falcone, Jen's close friend for 35 years and counting!
Around Easter time, Jen began to experience minor symptoms such as constant pain in her right shoulder and right side, which she endured for a few weeks.....symptoms that one would not initially tie to having life-threatening GI issues. Shortly thereafter, bloating, constipation and the inability to eat set in, along with the loss of about 20 pounds in one month.
A few weeks later, Jen started noticing pressure under her right rib cage. This was the result of the formation of multiple tumors in her liver, which ultimately spread to her lungs, making it difficult to for her breathe.
Due to COVID restrictions, there were no physicians who would see her in person. She made several frustrating attempts to seek medical help, but finally contacted her former primary care physician who agreed to see her on June 2nd. After Jen described her symptoms, her physician quickly ordered CT scans, ultrasounds and, based upon the physician's findings, Jen was immediately referred to a GI specialist. Jen had a feeling her physician knew that day that it was cancer since her physician recommended that she speak with an oncologist. At that point, Jen had lost a total of 25 pounds.
Everything went so quickly......test after test including a liver biopsy, bone and CT scans, then lastly a PET scan. During Jen's colonoscopy, her GI doctor had to stop the procedure as a result of not being able to get the scope past the tumor in her colon because the tumor was so large. He consulted with the surgeon who had to do emergency surgery to bypass the colon to perform an ostomy procedure.
Jen's oncologist began quick but aggressive treatment by immediately starting her chemotherapy following her procedure. Leading up to chemotherapy, Jen got down to 100 pounds (total loss of 40 pounds) and continues to experience bouts of severe weakness and fatigue.
Her oncologist, located in Rome, NY, has recently referred Jen to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston, MA to explore the possibility of other treatment options to help her win her battle. Jen has her first consultation appointment on September 8th.
All while her battle is underway, she is still caring for her two young children, Aidan, age 12 and Sophie, 9. Thankfully, Jen has her mom and immediate family to help cook meals for her and for her children. They have also served as a great support system for her. However, with COVID, Jen has to carefully protect her immune system and, therefore, has to be very cautious about exposing herself to too many people, so she is primarily caring for herself and her two children.
Jen had to stop working her full time job and start a leave of absence to begin her aggressive therapy to beat her cancer. Although Jen is receiving partial disability, it is not enough.....at all. Her medical bills are starting to rack up already and she is in the early stages of her fight. For example, the cost of her liver biopsy alone was $20,000....her out-of-pocket payment responsibility for that procedure is $3,000.
I ask you to PLEASE consider donating to her cause! She is an amazing friend, single mother, daughter, sister, aunt and cousin. I also ask you to SHARE and spread Jen's story to raise awareness to always be conscious of our bodies and know when something is wrong. You need to be your own health care advocate and be persistent about seeing your doctor when you know you're not feeling just right!
Please save a life and know you are donating to a great cause. If you'd prefer to donate to Jen via Venmo @Jennifer-Harris-369 she will be grateful.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your consideration,
Kristie M. Falcone, Jen's close friend for 35 years and counting!
Organizer
Jennifer Harris
Organizer
Rome, NY